Dobytranslations

Blog

  • The Saintess Has A Showdown 151-152

    Chapter 151: The Black Crown

    –Storm Realm, Gray Citadel

    Shadows loomed, mountains surrounded.

    The Gray Citadel, the second-ranked power in the Wind Realm, held a similar status to the Cold Court in the Sea Region.

    It was said that the Shadow Emperor of the Gray Citadel had been severely injured while fighting the legendary Water Element and had gone into seclusion upon returning, cutting off all contact with the outside world.

    Within a dark and gloomy palace, the meditating, blue-haired girl radiated a chilling aura, freezing the entire palace.

    Spirit Masters could inherit the auras of their spirit beasts. Now, with the Ice Soul Cold Star in its true form, along with the Frost Snow Woman and the Tyrant Demon Seed, Gong Lianyue’s spirit energy was terrifyingly powerful, even rivaling that of a Nether Traverse Stage Spirit Master.

    Of course, this was just in terms of aura. In a real fight, she would still lose…!

    Usually, during hostage exchanges, the other side would send a single representative. But Gong Lianyue, the “kidnapper,” had brazenly entered the enemy’s headquarters.

    After the Overlord’s birthday celebration, no one in the Wind Realm dared to touch her. No one could withstand the wrath of a legendary being.

    The exchange of the Swallow God was scheduled for three days from now.

    “Phew~~~”

    The blue-haired girl opened her teardrop eyes, exhaling a frosty mist.

    With two new Saint-rank spirit beasts, deciphering the encrypted information in her soul core had become incredibly difficult, taking her two hours to translate it into human language.

    [High-rank Dead Sea Stage: Nine-Colored Cloud Dream Flower] (Seven-Star Titan Moonquake Fox, Autumn Water Hundred Flower Fox Princess, Bloodbath Fox Sovereign, Weaver of the Sun, Blood Garden Phoenix Stage)
    [Bloodline Talent: Cultivation Amplification]
    [Spirit Beast Battle Techniques: Deep Sea – Possessing the Divine – O]

    [High-rank Dead Sea Stage: Iron Jade Ice Scorpion]
    [Bloodline Talent: Five-Leaf Clover]
    [Spirit Beast Battle Techniques: Jade Shatter – Nether Stone – O]

    [Saint-rank Dead Sea Stage: ??Frost Snow Woman??]
    [Bloodline Talents: Ice Coffin, Sacred Relic]
    [Spirit Beast Battle Techniques: Soul Embroidery – Frozen Domain – ∞]

    [Saint-rank Dead Sea Stage: ?Ice Soul Cold Star?]
    [Bloodline Talent: Sea Soul]
    [Spirit Beast Battle Techniques: Death Tribulation – Ice Emperor City – ∞]

    [Saint-rank Dead Sea Stage: ?Tyrant Demon Seed?]
    [Bloodline Talent: Closed Moon]
    [Spirit Beast Battle Techniques: Enhanced Leap – Moon Collapse – Hundred Refinements – War Mantle – ∞]

    Examining the information, Gong Lianyue noticed that the Tyrant Demon Seed was already fully evolved!

    Having once been a Sun and Moon Realm spirit beast, it had already completed its cultivation, reaching a peak unattainable by ordinary Saint-ranks.

    Its ability to create an army of grotesque rabbit clones was its battle technique [Hundred Refinements], which allowed it to divide its spirit energy and create new life, essentially weaker versions of itself.

    Both [Enhanced Leap] and [Moon Collapse] were self-buffing, active techniques, while the function of [War Mantle] was still inaccessible to Gong Lianyue, seemingly requiring Samsara Stage spirit energy to activate.

    However, having spent some time in the Wind Realm, she had heard stories about the Tyrant Demon Seed from a hundred years ago.

    It usually appeared as a grotesque, twisted monster, but during intense battles, it would don a moon-like armor.

    That armor… must be the War Mantle!

    And the key to the Tyrant Demon Seed’s incredible physical strength was its talent [Closed Moon], which allowed it to convert its spirit energy into physical strength.

    Essentially, sacrificing mana for attack power. Of course, it couldn’t convert all of it at once, or it would become completely drained, unable to sustain a prolonged battle.

    As for the Ice Soul Cold Star, the function of its talent, [Sea Soul], was still unknown, likely similar to the Tyrant Demon Seed’s War Mantle, inaccessible due to her insufficient spirit energy level.

    And [Ice Emperor City] was that massive, twisting cube, a guaranteed kill against any target, preventing death until the cube dissipated.

    [Death Tribulation], both offensive and defensive, was primarily used for defense.

    But if the Ice Soul Cold Star used Death Tribulation offensively, it would be like… hitting someone with a shield…

    However, as long as the Ice Soul Cold Star remained within Death Tribulation’s range, it was invincible.

    The two new Saint-rank spirit beasts, one an elemental offensive type, the other a biological combat type, had significantly increased Gong Lianyue’s combat power!

    While Gong Lianyue cultivated, a soft, white rabbit with floppy ears slept peacefully on the bed, while a small pink fox rolled and tumbled playfully on top of it.

    The rabbit lay motionless, unresponsive. After all, the little fox was essentially a flower, light as a feather.

    The Tyrant Demon Seed and the Nine-Colored Cloud Dream Flower seemed to be getting along…

    In contrast, the Ice Soul Cold Star and the Frost Snow Woman, as water and ice-type spirit beasts, disliked the chaotic spirit energy of the Wind Realm and rarely ventured out.

    Although seemingly asleep, the Tyrant Demon Seed had been tasked by its master with scouting the surroundings.

    Because Gong Lianyue was about to do something very important!

    She focused her consciousness on the storage space within the stone bracelet. The Swallow God and the black crown were stored in separate compartments, like two separate rooms, unable to interact.

    With a whoosh, the black crown left behind by the Water Element appeared, landing in the girl’s hand.

    The crown’s intricate design seemed more like a naturally occurring artifact than something crafted.

    Its dark, shimmering surface was etched with swirling water patterns, flowing and shifting, a masterpiece of craftsmanship.

    The black crown, left behind by the legendary Water Element, radiated a chilling aura…

    Gong Lianyue, suppressing her unease, placed the crown on her head. It gave her the appearance of a noble empress, the spirit energy flowing around her body distorting strangely.

    Swish, swish—

    Instantly, both the little fox and the rabbit were forcibly recalled and sealed within her spirit space.

    At the same time, Gong Lianyue could no longer sense the flow of spirit energy around her, as if she had lost her senses, entering a strange state.

    She knew she hadn’t actually lost her senses. Her soul core was simply blocking the wind-attribute spirit energy.

    Within her spirit space, the Nine-Colored Cloud Dream Flower and the Tyrant Demon Seed were inaccessible, their connection seemingly severed.

    However, she could still summon the Iron Jade Ice Scorpion, the Frost Snow Woman, and the Ice Soul Cold Star.

    Their only common trait… they were all related to the water attribute…

    Wait…

    Unable to absorb non-water-attribute spirit energy, unable to contract with non-water-type spirit beasts… Gong Lianyue recognized this state.

    The world seemed empty, only the sound of dripping water reaching her ears.

    This was… the Holy Water Body!!!

    Chapter 152: The Holy Water Body

    As if sinking into the endless depths of the ocean, only the sensation of falling and the sound of flowing water remained, all other senses fading.

    The connection to the physical world blurred, while her spiritual awareness sharpened, the two diverging, like paths branching in opposite directions.

    The spirit energy flowing within her became purer, holier, denser…

    Whoosh~~~~

    The next second, ripples spread outwards, and the girl, wearing the black crown, opened her eyes, her pupils swirling with water.

    The Holy Water Body. It sounded like a flawed constitution, burdened by its limitations, restricted to the water element, practically useless.

    But focusing solely on a single element allowed for complete mastery. Her mind and spirit, having sunk into the depths of the sea, had reached an incredible, wondrous state.

    Her body, her will, her core, her mind, her blood, her spirit energy—all transformed into a sacred temple of water.

    Such a transcendent state, a realm beyond the reach of ordinary human Spirit Masters.

    This was… the Holy Water Body…!!!

    “Ah-bah, ah-bah, ah-bah, ah-bah, ah-bah”

    Gong Lianyue was completely immersed in this wondrous sensation. Thirty minutes passed unnoticed, until the clock on the back of her iris beeped, jolting her awake. She quickly removed the black crown.

    The moment the crown was removed, the strange sensations vanished, and she returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.

    After a long silence, Gong Lianyue exhaled deeply, a lingering sense of awe.

    She hadn’t expected wearing the black crown to transform her into a Holy Water Body, the legendary water-type constitution, the ultimate dream of every water-attribute Spirit Master.

    Only those who understood the Holy Water Body truly feared it.

    With the Holy Water Body, one’s spiritual state reached a transcendent level, their cultivation speed skyrocketing. There was even a recorded case of someone reaching the Nether Traverse Stage in just three years!

    Wearing the black crown, she became a Holy Water Body.

    Removing it, she returned to normal.

    She hadn’t expected the Water Element to leave behind such a valuable treasure…

    Storing the black crown back in the stone bracelet, Gong Lianyue adjusted her appearance and hair, preparing for the upcoming Soul Prison Trial.

    The alarm on the back of her iris was something she had set, a one-minute warning.

    Although she had been informed that Spirit Masters wouldn’t participate in this trial, that it was a test of the spirit beasts’ independent judgment and actions, years of participating in the Soul Prison Trial had made these preparations a habit.

    [Soul Prison Trial, Session 219]
    [Soul Prison Trial, Fourth Level: Tower of Heaven]

    Swish, swish, swish, swish!

    Within the Soul Prison Trial, inside a massive tower that pierced the clouds, thousands of spirit beast auras suddenly appeared.

    From all corners of the spirit world, countless spirit beasts had been forcibly summoned.

    Mid-ranks as common as dogs, high-ranks everywhere, even a few Saint-ranks!

    The fire-type overlord, the Desolate Fire Netherworld Rakshasa, its scorching aura creating a hundred-meter radius of empty space, all other creatures fearing incineration.

    The ghost-type Hundred-Eyed Ghost Bride, grotesque purple eyeballs constantly sprouting from its spectral robes, a sanity-blasting sight.

    The thousand-meter-long Abyssal Bloodbone Jiao, and the Libra Fighting Swallow, its body radiating a violent battle lust.

    Before these powerful Saint-rank overlords, most other spirit beasts kept their distance, afraid to approach.

    Hidden among them, the Frost Snow Woman, her beautiful face pale and cold, her shroud-like robe radiating a chilling aura, stood silently in a corner, like an unmelting block of ice.

    The Iron Jade Ice Scorpion and the small Ice Spirit stood on either side of her, a clear display of loyalty to the Saint-rank Frost Snow Woman, a water-type team.

    A small, adorable fox perched on the scorpion’s head, looking around in confusion.

    1, 2, 3, 4…

    It could still count to single digits. Weren’t they missing a rabbit?

    Where had the rabbit gone? The little fox scanned the area.

    Suddenly, instead of the Tyrant Demon Seed, it saw two figures it dreaded.

    A pink flower and a green vine, swaying helplessly amidst the massive spirit beasts, a pitiful sight.

    The Seven-Foot Sword Princess Flower and the Misty Heart Lotus!

    The little fox quickly ducked its head, concealing its aura, afraid to be seen.

    It hadn’t expected to encounter them here. How unlucky!

    The fourth level of the Soul Prison Trial didn’t require the Spirit Master’s participation. It was a test of the spirit beasts’ independent judgment and actions.

    Based on the usual time dilation, Gong Lianyue had expected her spirit beasts to return in the blink of an eye.

    However, a second later, the world around her shifted, the Gray Citadel palace vanishing.

    Her consciousness transported, the blue-haired, teardrop-eyed girl stood in a vast, empty, white space, looking around in confusion.

    “Strange, is this the Soul Prison Trial? I thought Spirit Masters weren’t supposed to participate.”

    Only her spirit beasts should have been sent in. Why was she here?

    As Gong Lianyue explored the empty space, she sensed something strange about her soul core.

    Except for the Tyrant Demon Seed, all her other spirit beasts were inaccessible, their connection severed. Only the Tyrant Demon Seed could be summoned!

    Just then, a cold, female voice echoed in her mind.

    [Detected high-aptitude, combat-type spirit beast meeting requirements.]

    [Detected Spirit Master age below 50.]

    [Detected Saint-rank spirit beast: Tyrant Demon Seed.]

    [Evaluation complete. Requirements met.]

    [Welcome to the Waterfall Lake Wonderland. By completing the trials within, your spirit beast will undergo a significant evolution.]

    Unlike the mechanical voice of the Soul Prison Trial, this female voice, although cold, had a seductive quality.

    The woman who recorded this message must have been incredibly beautiful…

    Wait, the Waterfall Lake Wonderland!!!

    Wasn’t that the legendary Jade Concubine of the Waterfall Lake’s spirit realm? Gong Lianyue was stunned.

    Her Water Element had just been suspected of being the Jade Concubine, and now she had been summoned to the Waterfall Lake Wonderland.

    It must be because of the Tyrant Demon Seed’s powerful combat talent…

    Its aura was so unfamiliar, even its own mother wouldn’t recognize it. So, she could rule out the possibility of the Water Element being the Jade Concubine!!!

  • The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated 494

    Chapter 494: “My Fiancé”

    “You…”

    Carol finally reacted, her gaze towards Shien changing.

    At this moment, Carol finally had a natural question.

    “Who are you?”

    Carol had asked this question before.

    However, at that time, she wasn’t asking about Shien’s identity, but the reason why he and his group were here.

    Now, having witnessed the terrifying power Lilith displayed, and knowing that Shien was the central figure of this group, Carol finally took this question seriously, and had to ask it.

    “Me?”

    Shien, however, didn’t answer the question, but winked at Lucy beside him.

    Lucy rolled her eyes.

    Because she knew that Shien was asking her to step forward.

    After all, among their group, Airi and Lilith’s backgrounds were too intimidating, Lasha was just a maid, and only her identity was suitable for this occasion, neither too high nor too low, just right for resolving the situation.

    Therefore, Lucy stepped forward.

    “I am the Second Princess of the Kingdom of Mitra, Roselucia Mitra.”

    When Lucy said this to the Elven Corps, Carol and the entire corps were shocked.

    “Roselucia Mitra?”

    “The Second Princess of the Kingdom of Mitra?”

    “Is… is she the Kingdom’s treasure…!?”

    “The one who inherited the Holy Sword and received the Goddess of Fate’s blessing…!?”

    The members of the Elven Corps exclaimed.

    “Y-you… you’re Princess Lucy?” Carol also looked surprised, then as if recalling something, she turned to Shien and couldn’t help but ask, “Then could he be…?”

    It seemed that Carol, the vice-commander of the Elven Corps, had heard of Shien.

    Lucy also glanced at Shien, a smile appearing on her face.

    “He is Shien Buztout, my fiancé.”

    Lucy introduced him frankly, and her tone was even more enthusiastic than when she introduced herself.

    Clearly, Lucy had long wanted to do this.

    However, hearing her words, Airi and Melika’s expressions turned unpleasant.

    Airi was quite unhappy and snorted, turning her head away.

    Melika looked envious and a bit down.

    Carol and the members of the Elven Corps looked at Shien again, their gazes changing.

    “Shien Buztout…”

    This name had become incredibly famous recently.

    He was the human protected by Airi, the Dragon Demon, one of the Six Demon Lords, and the companion of Lilith, the strongest evil god, who had recently been unsealed and entered the public eye. Moreover, he had become the fiancé of Lucy, the modern Hero, defeating countless heroes and successfully winning the hand of this unattainable flower. His name had spread throughout the human world in less than a month.

    Although the Elven Race was relatively exclusive and somewhat isolated, they weren’t completely cut off from the outside world and still paid attention to news and information from the human world.

    Under such circumstances, Shien’s name naturally entered their field of vision.

    Ordinary elves might not know about these things, but as guardians of the Elven Race, the royal guards directly under the command of the Elven Queen, the Elven Corps couldn’t possibly not know about this sensational news.

    Since that was the case…

    “Then these two are…!?”

    Carol looked at Airi and Lilith, her expression stiffening.

    Not only Carol, but the other members of the Elven Corps also trembled.

    Since Shien’s identity had been revealed, and the Elven Corps knew about the rumors surrounding him, it wasn’t difficult for them to guess Airi and Lilith’s identities.

    Moreover, the terrifying power Lilith had just displayed was also explained after they learned her identity.

    Now, Carol finally understood why the [Pure Flower Curtain], the strongest defensive magic unique to the Elven Race, had been broken so easily.

    It wasn’t that the [Pure Flower Curtain] wasn’t strong enough.

    This magic, passed down through generations of the Elven Corps, could even block the attacks of level limit experts without any damage.

    However, against the power of an existence beyond the level limit, it was only natural for this magic to be ineffective.

    Or rather, the fact that the [Pure Flower Curtain] could even slightly resist Lilith’s power after she unleashed it already proved its defensive capabilities, undoubtedly the strongest in the human world.

    Unfortunately, this time, the opponent was too terrifying.

    Carol felt that the situation was beyond her ability to handle.

    Facing these people, she, a level eighty-nine vice-commander, clearly couldn’t control the situation.

    Fortunately…

    “Stand down, Carol.”

    With this sudden voice, an emerald green light descended from the sky like a vortex, landing before Shien and his group.

    Leaves and petals danced around the light, making the scene incredibly beautiful.

    Everyone’s gazes were drawn to this, looking over involuntarily.

    Three figures slowly emerged from the vortex of light, appearing before everyone.

    Seeing these three figures, the members of the Elven Corps looked overjoyed.

    Shien and his group were slightly stunned, then their eyes widened in amazement.

    The reason was simple: the three figures who emerged from the vortex of light were all breathtakingly beautiful.

    The one at the forefront had long, thick, emerald green hair that reached her heels. She wore a simple white dress in a Grecian style, revealing her voluptuous figure.

    She was barefoot, her skin delicate and smooth, wearing a crown made of flowers and vines, and holding a wooden staff. She exuded an elegant and noble aura.

    As for her appearance, it was even more stunning.

    Fair skin, red lips, blue eyes, and a delicate nose, as if the most exquisite facial features in the world were combined, creating a beauty like a work of art.

    This was another beauty no less stunning than Lucy or Nien, even surpassing the still-developing Diere, very close to a perfect one hundred.

    Behind this stunning beauty, two elven magician girls followed respectfully, wearing robes and holding staffs, one surrounded by swirling leaves, the other with dancing petals, their appearances no less beautiful than Melika’s. If it weren’t for the presence of the queen, they would definitely be the most eye-catching ones here.

    These three elven women arrived quietly, instantly captivating everyone present.

    “Your Majesty!”

    Carol immediately knelt on one knee.

    “Your Majesty!”

    All the members of the Elven Corps knelt down, surrounding the Elven Queen.

    “She’s the Elven Queen?”

    Shien raised an eyebrow, the amazement in his eyes still lingering.

    Lucy stared intently, as if sensing a threat from the Elven Queen.

    Lilith and Lasha were still the same, one looking around curiously, the other standing expressionlessly.

    Only Airi, after the Elven Queen appeared, glanced at her, then looked away.

    Similarly, the Elven Queen’s gaze swept over everyone, her eyes gradually filling with amazement.

    While others marveled at the Elven Queen’s beauty and nobility, the Elven Queen was also amazed by Shien and his group.

    Not to mention Lucy, who possessed beauty and magic power no less than her own, making the Elven Queen take her seriously, let alone Airi and Lilith.

    The Elven Queen’s gaze lingered on Airi and Lilith for several seconds.

    And then…

    “Huh?”

    When the Elven Queen’s gaze fell on Lasha, this noble elven royal was first stunned, then her expression suddenly changed for some reason.

    “You…!?”

    “What…!?”

    Not only the Elven Queen, but even Leia and Nia’s expressions changed drastically upon seeing Lasha.

    This reaction stunned Shien.

    What was going on?

    Shien, stunned, didn’t notice the subtle change in Airi and Lucy’s expressions after seeing the Elven Queen’s reaction.

    Airi even stepped forward and looked coldly at the Elven Queen.

    “You’ve become quite bold, Sophie, daring to bar my way. It seems a thousand years is a long time, making you forget your fear.”

    Airi showed an aggressiveness completely different from her previous indifference.

    That aggressiveness, along with a hint of ferocious dragon’s might, leaked from Airi, making everyone present shudder and reveal looks of fear.

    Even Shien was surprised by Airi’s sudden assertiveness.

    “Dragon Demon Princess…”

    Sophie, the Elven Queen, finally reacted and took a deep breath to calm herself down.

    However, her gaze still occasionally shifted to Lasha, not even fully focusing on Airi, which was puzzling.

    Leia and Nia’s faces were slightly pale, their behavior unusual.

    Facing this strange scene, Lasha remained expressionless and unmoved, as if everything had nothing to do with her, aloof and detached.

    The atmosphere became strange.

    Finally, even Shien frowned, sensing something was amiss.

    But just as Shien was about to do something, he found his hand being held.

    Shien turned his head and saw Lucy’s face.

    Lucy didn’t say anything, just shook her head at Shien, seemingly telling him not to pursue the matter.

    Shien’s frown deepened, his gaze sweeping over the Elven Queen, Airi, and Lasha, then he fell silent.

    A strange atmosphere spread, making the members of the Elven Corps exchange glances.

    The air became heavy.

  • Reborn to Stew Soup (GL) 110

    Chapter 110: Grandpa

    When Miao Qianye on the screen leaned over, resting her forehead against the young Empress’s folded hands, and the curtains fell, Director Pan thought that was the end of Ji Junxin’s improvisation.

    Indeed, her performance in this scene, from the initial outburst of anger and vulnerability as she barged into the bedchamber, to the hesitant fear as she approached the truth, was far superior to her earlier takes. The same person, the same actions, but the feeling was entirely different, every movement, every glance, emotionally charged.

    Was it because this scene was filmed so soon after Mi Hongdou’s suicide scene? Director Pan could almost feel the emotional continuity between the two scenes.

    The sorrow deepened, the tragedy amplified… Miao Qianye’s arrival seemed to elevate the young Empress’s earlier despair and resignation. The Empress’s final act of drawing the curtains had been heartbreaking enough, but Miao Qianye’s panicked arrival made it even more poignant.

    Then, Ji Junxin, deviating from the script, after confirming the Empress’s death, stood up, and then, in a sudden outburst of anger, pulled the Empress’s body up. Director Pan almost crushed his own hand.

    Yes, that was it. Besides the sorrow, there was also anger, resentment! How could you decide this on your own, sacrificing your life for me!

    The Empress’s suicide was a sacrifice, an act of giving up. She had given up on their shared struggle, their unspoken bond forged in adversity. She had chosen sacrifice, and Miao Qianye didn’t want it.

    Director Pan watched as Ji Junxin grabbed Mi Hongdou’s clothes, pulling up the lifeless body, her eyes filled with not just grief, but also… a hint of hatred.

    Yes, hatred was justified. We promised to face this together.

    Director Pan was surprised by Ji Junxin’s performance, so different from her earlier takes, elevating the scene to a new level. And when Ji Junxin leaned over, resting her forehead against Mi Hongdou’s hand, he marveled at her portrayal of this deep friendship.

    This scene was far superior to the previous ones, perfectly building on the emotional foundation laid by Mi Hongdou’s suicide scene. But he still felt… something was missing? Ji Junxin’s performance was brilliant, even better than her previous ones. He couldn’t quite pinpoint what was lacking.

    He shook his head. Perhaps it wasn’t lacking anything, perhaps he was just being too critical…

    Just then, from behind the curtains, a choked sob, a heart-wrenching cry, pierced through the fabric, stabbing at his heart. Director Pan froze. Yes, that was it, the final… emotional explosion.

    The helplessness, the sorrow, the unspoken anger… all released in that one cry.

    He instinctively looked at the screen. Fortunately, during the brief silence after the curtain fell, the camera had still been rolling.

    This had to be included! It was perfect, so emotionally resonant, it would make this film unforgettable. Director Pan was so excited that he could barely contain himself, he wanted to release the film right then and there.

    At his age, with his established career, this kind of excitement, this passion, this uncontrollable enthusiasm, was a rare feeling.

    “Imperial Secrets” will be a hit! The friendship between Miao Qianye and the young Empress will move so many people, will make them envious! Director Pan thought confidently.

    Unlike the elated Director Pan, Mi Hongdou, playing the corpse, wasn’t having a good time.

    She had thought that after filming the suicide scene, she had overcome the biggest challenge of this film, and this last scene, Ji Junxin’s big moment, she just had to lie there quietly.

    But this scene had become a hidden, post-game boss, its difficulty level skyrocketing.

    Mi Hongdou hadn’t expected playing a corpse to be so difficult…

    After the suicide scene, she had lingered on the bed, already detached from the role. She had approached this scene with a casual attitude, not intending to immerse herself.

    Playing a corpse, the most important things were: don’t move, and breathe as shallowly as possible. This wasn’t difficult for Mi Hongdou.

    Studies showed that humans relied heavily on their sight. When deprived of visual input, other senses became heightened.

    Mi Hongdou, her eyes closed, experienced this firsthand.

    Lying still, she could hear Ji Junxin entering the room, could feel her lifting the curtain.

    And then, her peace was shattered.

    Something approached, carried by a breeze, a coolness, stopping just before her. She clearly smelled… Ji Junxin’s hand cream, the scent lingering, not dissipating.

    If her nose wasn’t malfunctioning, then… had Ji Junxin changed the scene? Was she testing her breathing?

    Mi Hongdou’s mind reeled. Qiao Rubai’s earlier words, although she didn’t dare to dwell on them, were still fresh in her memory.

    In her previous life… when she died… had Ji Junxin also done this, desperately searching for a sign of life? The two scenes overlapped in her mind, and her breathing quickened.

    No… no… Mi Hongdou forced herself to calm down, to slow her breathing. She was filming, playing a corpse, she couldn’t ruin the take with her own emotions, she couldn’t waste Ji Junxin’s effort!

    So, she struggled to maintain her composure in this supposedly easy scene.

    She relaxed her body, cleared her mind, and focused on controlling her breathing, becoming acutely aware of the moment Ji Junxin’s hand retreated.

    The rustling of the falling curtain brought a slight relief.

    But before she could relax completely, she felt a gust of wind, her clothes being clutched tightly, her upper body lifted.

    What the hell! Mi Hongdou desperately tried to remain still, to suppress her panic and not break character.

    Ji Junxin is just acting… acting… acting… she told herself.

    Fortunately, this uncomfortable position didn’t last long. She felt herself being gently lowered, and as her back touched the bed, her racing heart calmed down slightly.

    Ji Junxin’s hand brushed against her chest, her neck, a tingling sensation that made her skin crawl. Mi Hongdou hated her heightened senses…

    She didn’t dare to imagine what Ji Junxin looked like now, focusing on controlling her own body, which only made it worse.

    Then, as Ji Junxin leaned over, Mi Hongdou felt the warmth and dampness on the back of her hand, and she realized how difficult it was to play a corpse.

    Although it was just acting, she desperately wanted to wipe away Ji Junxin’s tears, to hold her tightly… to tell her it was all fake, not to cry!

    The dampness on her hand spread, but Director Pan still hadn’t called cut. Mi Hongdou was about to break.

    She didn’t have to wait for Director Pan’s “cut.” Ji Junxin’s choked cry made her break character.

    That cry was like a knife, piercing her heart.

    Forgetting everything, Mi Hongdou opened her eyes, her vision blurring from the sudden light, and reached out, her hand cupping Ji Junxin’s face.

    “…” She wanted to ask what was wrong, but as Ji Junxin, following her touch, lifted her face and met her gaze, the words died in her throat.

    What kind of gaze was that? … Mi Hongdou couldn’t describe it, but she felt that… perhaps this was how Ji Junxin had looked after her death in her previous life. Like a whirlpool of sorrow, drawing in everyone who looked at her, crushing them with its intensity.

    Mi Hongdou had been wrong, her heart wasn’t just pierced, it was shattered into a million pieces.

    “The… filming… is over…” Mi Hongdou didn’t know what to say, she wasn’t even sure if they were finished, but these words seemed like the only possible comfort. Yes, comfort, she didn’t know how to comfort Ji Junxin. She clumsily wiped the tears from Ji Junxin’s face, but it was useless… Ji Junxin continued crying.

    Something was wrong! Mi Hongdou couldn’t wipe away her tears, her own heart aching with worry and helplessness.

    Ji Junxin’s gaze, slightly unfocused, then she pulled back slightly, away from Mi Hongdou’s touch.

    Mi Hongdou froze.

    Ji Junxin suddenly stood up, roughly wiped her face with her sleeve, and without a word, left the bed.

    Ji Junxin’s tears, cold against her palm, Mi Hongdou, like a startled bird, was stunned by her sudden departure.

    Something was definitely wrong. She quickly followed Ji Junxin, who was walking towards Director Pan.

    Director Pan, still immersed in the scene, hadn’t noticed Ji Junxin’s approach, her expression resolute.

    “Let’s film the next scene,” Ji Junxin said as she reached him. “The next scene should be the poisoning scene, I’m ready, let’s begin.”

    It was common for directors to urge actors, but actors asking to start the next scene immediately was rare. However, Director Pan, having experienced the actors’ eagerness during the escape scenes, was relatively calm.

    “It’s almost lunch time, let’s wrap up for the morning and film that scene in the afternoon,” he said, still thinking about how to edit the two scenes together for maximum impact, not wanting to rush into the next one.

    “…” Ji Junxin seemed unwilling to accept his refusal and insisted, “The next scene was originally scheduled for the morning. I know I wasted some time earlier, but I promise I won’t delay the next scene, we’ll finish before lunch.”

    Ji Junxin’s eagerness, practically guaranteeing a one-take pass, made Director Pan pause.

    Why so eager?

    Facing her sincerity, he almost couldn’t refuse, but then he noticed her red eyes.

    “Well… it’s not about the previous scene. It’s just that for the next scene, you’ll need to reapply your makeup, to look older, which will take time. And your eyes… you need to rest, to recover.” He tried to be gentle. “And even if you don’t NG, it won’t matter. The next scene is with Jiang Duo… it will definitely take a long time. Let’s have lunch first, rest, and then focus on that scene this afternoon. You also need to rest.”

    His words were reasonable and well-intentioned. Ji Junxin knew this and silently retreated.

    Mi Hongdou arrived just in time to hear their conversation.

    But it was too late to intervene, the matter was settled.

    As Ji Junxin walked away, Mi Hongdou followed. She caught up, and then, hesitantly, asked, “Are you… okay?”

    Ji Junxin stopped abruptly, and Mi Hongdou, not reacting in time, took a few more steps before turning back awkwardly.

    “What is it?” Ji Junxin’s eyes were still slightly red, but there were no tears. Her gaze towards Mi Hongdou was just… questioning.

    It was as if the earlier emotions had been an illusion.

    Mi Hongdou wanted to say something, but the words caught in her throat.

    Ji Junxin waited patiently.

    “I’m… fine…” Mi Hongdou mumbled.

    Ji Junxin smiled faintly and continued walking.

    Mi Hongdou didn’t follow. Her mind was a mess, even more so now, after seeing Ji Junxin. She needed to be alone.

    So, she missed the coldness in Ji Junxin’s eyes, the hardness in her gaze.

    After dismissing Ji Junxin, Director Pan, seeing that the crew meals had arrived, announced a lunch break.

    Pan Xiang, who had been working on her graduation thesis at the hotel, arrived on set for lunch at her grandfather’s urging. She couldn’t understand why, during the estate scenes, when there were no other options, he had insisted on her eating the crew meals with him. But now, back in Shudian, with plenty of restaurants nearby, he still insisted. It was… inhumane!

    Regardless of her complaints, as long as they were in Shudian, she would usually obey and eat the crew meals.

    When she arrived, she saw Director Pan eating his boxed lunch while watching something on the monitor.

    As expected, without her supervision, he was being bad again. Pan Xiang sighed and walked over to him, blocking the screen. “Focus on your food, Grandpa. Grandma told you not to watch TV while eating. Next time you have a stomachache, I won’t cover for you.”

    Having such an unreliable grandfather, she always had to nag him like a mother.

    And this grandfather was even less obedient than a child.

    Director Pan, annoyed by the sudden obstruction, waved his chopsticks. “Hey, move! I’m thinking about the editing!”

    “You’re in charge of editing too?” Pan Xiang complained, reluctantly stepping aside. It wasn’t that she wanted to, but Director Pan’s waving chopsticks, with the greasy red-braised pork from his lunchbox, were threatening.

    “Hmph.” He snorted, then his excitement returned, and he forgot his annoyance. “You missed two great scenes this morning! Come, take a look!” Like a child showing off a new toy, he pulled Pan Xiang over and replayed the two scenes they had just filmed.

    I haven’t even eaten yet! My lunch is getting cold! How can I eat that greasy, cold red-braised pork! Your granddaughter is going to starve, do you even care! Are you even my grandpa! Pan Xiang, dragged over by Director Pan, was filled with complaints, which vanished the moment she saw the screen.

    The first scene was the Empress’s suicide. As she watched, Pan Xiang felt that something was… off. Not that it deviated from the script, on the contrary, the performance was even more emotionally resonant than what she had written.

    After watching Mi Hongdou’s performance, Pan Xiang felt it was brilliant, she herself, the screenwriter, was almost moved to tears, but something still felt… wrong!

    Director Pan seamlessly transitioned to the next scene, Miao Qianye’s arrival.

    Pan Xiang watched, her jaw dropping slightly, her eyes wide with surprise.

    After the two scenes, her jaw still hadn’t returned to its normal position. Had her worst fear come true! She had written a normal script! Why did it always end up with homoerotic undertones!

    “How is it? Isn’t it great! I have two ideas for editing. One, just play them sequentially. Two, intercut them, showing a bit of the Empress’s scene, then Miao Qianye’s, then back to the Empress’s, following the parallel timelines. Or, even bolder, split the screen, showing Miao Qianye rushing to the palace on one side, and the young Empress looking at the door on the other, a contrast between her urgency and the Empress’s waiting, only to miss each other in the end, how heartbreaking! And then Miao Qianye’s final, despairing cry, it would be incredibly moving!” Director Pan said excitedly, not noticing his granddaughter’s stunned silence. “So, which editing method do you think is more effective?”

    Pan Xiang stared at the excited Director Pan, then rubbed her face, which had stiffened from shock, finally closing her mouth. She couldn’t imagine his expression after the film was released… He’s so clueless… she thought, then suddenly remembered, he was her grandfather, after the release, he would definitely hold her responsible! Am I going to be executed for this?!

    “My script… wasn’t like this…” Pan Xiang looked at the excited Director Pan, her expression complex.

    “Hmph,” Director Pan snorted. “It’s just a minor change. As the director, can’t I make a few changes? Don’t you think the result is great?”

    Great… so great that even a blind person could sense the yuri undertones… and you’re even thinking about split-screen, parallel timelines, are you trying to shove it in the audience’s faces, Grandpa?! Facing the incredibly enthusiastic Director Pan, Pan Xiang weakly raised her hand. “I just want to say, those two scenes weren’t filmed according to my script.”

    “Hmph!” Director Pan felt like his enthusiasm had been met with a bucket of cold water. He ignored Pan Xiang, picked up his lunchbox, and walked away.

    Pan Xiang was stunned, then quickly chased after him, shouting, “Grandpa… remember! Those two scenes weren’t according to my script! Remember that when you edit the film! Grandpa… Grandpa, Grandpa!”

    Grandpa, don’t go! Grandpa, listen to me! It wasn’t me! Grandpa up ahead, is this your lost granddaughter?

  • The Grotesque Miss’s End Story v2c54

    Chapter Fifty-Four: The Kept Miss Luo Ling

    The quiet cafe was a suitable place for discussing important matters, but for the two women present, the atmosphere was anything but “quiet.”

    A waiter carrying coffee froze mid-step, nearby patrons casting curious glances, their eyes blinking at the wrong moment.

    In this time-frozen world, Luo Ling’s casual words struck Fiona like a thunderclap, making her stand up abruptly.

    “What did you just say?”

    Fiona stared at the girl with the strange makeup, her calm demeanor giving her an unexpected air of elegance, her gaze fixed on the girl’s eyes, searching for a flicker of doubt.

    A hint of falsehood.

    But she found none.

    The girl’s eyes were as calm and indifferent as her expression.

    “Should I repeat myself?” Luo Ling asked softly.

    “…I’m just surprised, not deaf.” Fiona composed herself, though her rapid breathing betrayed her inner turmoil.

    She sat down again, her expression now a mixture of anxiety and anticipation.

    After a moment of hesitation, she asked, “Did you really… see Linna? And the ‘Hunt’ team?”

    “Aunt Fiona, do I seem like the kind of person who jokes about such sensitive matters?”

    “I-I apologize…”

    Fiona quickly lowered her head, an unprecedented display of vulnerability—rarely did anyone witness such unease from a high-ranking member of the Fate Society.

    Luo Ling smiled faintly. Fiona’s flustered expression slightly appeased her earlier resentment.

    Serves you right for treating me like Linna!

    When the real Linna appeared before Aunt Fiona, she would surely feel guilty.

    Before Luo Ling could speak, Fiona raised her hand, took a deep breath, and said,

    “Wait a moment, Luo Ling, let me process this… this news is too shocking, I need some time to calm down.”

    Luo Ling nodded. After a while, Fiona regained her composure, her expression turning serious.

    “This must be related to your experience in the Realm of Nothingness.” Fiona said gravely. “You must have experienced an illusion… witnessing the past.”

    “Something like that.”

    Luo Ling wasn’t surprised that Fiona had guessed it.

    However, Fiona couldn’t possibly imagine, or rather, hadn’t dared to imagine, that Luo Ling had not only witnessed the “illusion” but also actively participated in it, influencing the past.

    Through her recent exploration of the Realm of Nothingness and Naraku’s unpredictable abilities, Luo Ling had a theory about her return to the past.

    It wasn’t time travel, but Naraku’s “rewrite reality,” somehow triggering the Realm of Nothingness’s “Transcendence,” allowing her to enter the Boundary before its annihilation.

    As long as she left the Incubation Barrier, the brief “Transcendence” would end, and she would return to the present.

    However, the causal relationship was complex, whether intentional or not, it had led to the current outcome.

    “Linna’s Sacred Tool…”

    Fiona said hesitantly.

    “Yes, I obtained it in the illusion.” Luo Ling nodded.

    Luo Ling omitted her own involvement and Linna’s transformation, recounting the events within the Incubation Barrier, including the Company’s scheme, the Speakers’ participation, and the untold truths.

    She withheld some information, as her own involvement, related to “Transcendence” and her other abilities, was difficult to explain. As for Linna’s situation… she would let Linna decide.

    “I can’t believe Frick was a Torchbearer agent…”

    Fiona shook her head wryly. “The Torchbearers rarely recruit Westerners, let alone train them to ninth-order… perhaps that’s why we overlooked him.”

    From Cheng Jianming’s letter, it was clear that although the Torchbearers used tarot card code names, they leaned towards Eastern culture.

    The Torchbearers’ presence in Victoria was unique. They were merchants from the East, trading tea, spices, and other Eastern specialties.

    “However, this likely involves more than just the Torchbearers and the Company…”

    Fiona’s expression turned grim.

    She hadn’t been able to uncover the truth all these years. There must have been some interference…

    Fiona looked at Luo Ling and said, “Luo Ling, don’t get involved in this anymore. It’s too dangerous for you.

    “The Sacred Medicines from the Torchbearers weren’t just a gesture of goodwill, but also a warning. And the Company… those directors aren’t kind. I suspect that the ‘old man’ himself orchestrated a part of the Torchbearers’ plan.”

    “The old man?”

    Luo Ling was surprised. She had a favorable impression of the elderly director.

    He seemed kind and approachable, even expressing remorse for the Company’s past actions.

    “That’s all true. He wasn’t being deceitful. He was sincere.”

    Fiona shook her head. “But that sincerity is what makes him terrifying… If the board decides to silence you, he will be the one to make that decision.”

    Luo Ling nodded, her expression turning serious.

    It seemed she needed to re-evaluate the threat levels of the various factions…

    Fiona seemed reluctant to discuss the Company directors further. She paused, then continued, “I’ll handle the rest. You just focus on being a Company employee.”

    Fiona didn’t suggest that Luo Ling abandon her Company identity and join the Fate Society. She knew that would only put her in greater danger.

    How could she let this girl, so similar to her daughter, face such risks? She would handle it herself.

    “Okay.”

    Luo Ling nodded, knowing she needed to keep a low profile.

    “But… are you sure Linna is really alive?”

    After a long hesitation, Fiona finally asked the question that weighed most heavily on her mind.

    According to Luo Ling’s account, Linna had escaped the Incubation Barrier at the last moment, then vanished without a trace.

    “Yes, of course, I wouldn’t lie about this.” Luo Ling nodded. “I told you before, Miss Linna might not be dead.”

    She had merely omitted some details. The main points were true. Luo Ling hadn’t lied.

    Even Luo Ling, Linna’s master, didn’t know her current whereabouts… Although the term “master” was embarrassing, it was true. Linna had become a part of the White Witch, her consciousness even invaded by the Puppet Ballad.

    “I thought… that was just a kind lie, to comfort me.”

    Fiona’s expression was strange, a mixture of hope and disbelief. Her long-dormant emotions stirred, yet it still felt unreal.

    Luo Ling, knowing herself well, said, “I’m not that considerate.”

    “That’s true, heh…”

    Fiona chuckled, her expression lighter, the recent good news bringing a smile to her face for the first time in years.

    “By the way, Aunt Fiona, there’s something I’d like to ask you for help with.”

    Luo Ling took out a box and pushed it towards Fiona. “I heard the Fate Society specializes in crafting Sacred Tools, right? I have a Sacred Relic I’d like you to craft into a Sacred Tool.”

    “Hmm?” Fiona’s eyes lit up, taking the box. “Crafting a Sacred Tool is no problem, but I have to tell you, the success rate isn’t very high. Most of the time, it just becomes a weapon imbued with special power. It has to contain a Grotesquery’s ability to be considered a Sacred Tool.”

    “I’ve heard that, but… does the success rate depend on the crafting method?” Luo Ling asked.

    “It’s a factor, but the most important factor is whether the Sacred Relic contains a Grotesquery’s ability, and the amount of power it contains.”

    Fiona opened the box, wrapped tightly with tape. “What level of Grotesquery is this from? If it’s close to Dangerous Grotesquery level, I can personally craft it for you. If it’s too low-level… it’s not worth my time.”

    Fiona was the highest-ranking Sacred Tool crafter within the Fate Society. Her services were expensive, and she wouldn’t even bother with lower-level Dangerous Grotesquery Sacred Relics, only those within the top hundred Sequences.

    Of course, for Luo Ling’s request… it was a different matter.

    “Oh, it should meet your requirements,” Luo Ling said. “It’s from ‘Core of Fear’ of Nightmare, Grotesquery Sequence 37.”

    She had retrieved the Sacred Relic from Elsa before meeting Fiona.

    For some reason, Elsa had been keeping it in her bed… likely the only person who would do such a thing with a Grotesquery’s remains.

    “One hundred thirty-seventh? Alright, no problem.” Fiona nodded, then took out a crystal orb from the crude, almost package-like box.

    “It’s thirty-seventh.” Luo Ling corrected her.

    “…Thirty-seventh?”

    Fiona recalled the thirty-seventh Sequence. It was indeed “Core of Fear.”

    Her expression changed, feeling the powerful aura emanating from the orb, almost dropping it. “Luo Ling… this is a High-Risk Grotesquery Sacred Relic! You kept it in this shoddy box?”

    “I couldn’t find another box. Oh, and when I drew it, the description said, ‘Used appropriately, it can effectively suppress most Oneiric and Nightmare abilities’.” Luo Ling said.

    “…It has the potential to become a Sacred Tool!” Fiona’s eyes lit up. For a Sacred Tool crafter, this was a treasure.

    However, she was puzzled. “How did you obtain such a valuable item? Even the Company requires a P9 or higher annual bonus to redeem this.”

    Luo Ling hadn’t been able to see the more valuable treasures in the vault because of her low rank. Higher ranks had access to better items.

    And some particularly valuable items, like this High-Risk Grotesquery Sacred Relic with Sacred Tool potential, required multiple vault access opportunities.

    “I drew it.” Luo Ling replied.

    “You drew it?”

    Fiona’s disbelief was even greater than when she learned that Linna was alive. “Seriously, can you actually draw something like this from the Company’s vault?”

    The general consensus regarding the Company’s vault lottery system was that it was a scheme to drain employees’ annual bonuses…

    But there were always gamblers, hoping to win a prize worth several years’ worth of bonuses.

    “You drew it yourself?”

    Fiona asked suspiciously.

    “I drew it myself.”

    Luo Ling’s expression remained unchanged.

    …A lie.

    Fiona saw the flicker of guilt in Luo Ling’s eyes and chuckled.

    She put the Sacred Relic away and said, “But I have to tell you, even I can’t guarantee creating a Sacred Tool from a High-Risk Grotesquery Sacred Relic. Besides the necessary conditions, it also requires some luck. I can only try my best.”

    “Of course, I understand.” Luo Ling paused, then asked, “How much will it cost?”

    “Between us, do we need to discuss such things?” Fiona raised an eyebrow. “Of course, if you insist on paying, I won’t refuse. I don’t lack resources or money. What I lack is…”

    “Since you’re being so evasive, Aunt Fiona, I won’t stand on ceremony.” Luo Ling interrupted, knowing what Fiona wanted.

    “Oh, what a pity.”

    Fiona shook her head, her expression turning regretful.

    She really wanted to adopt Luo Ling as her daughter…

    Even if Linna was still alive, who said she couldn’t have two daughters?

    Linna would definitely like Miss Luo Ling too.

    “Time’s almost up. Don’t mention any of this after the time stop is lifted. It might attract unwanted attention.”

    Fiona said, “The ‘old man’ is an Other Shore path Awakened One, constantly monitoring Victoria… be careful.”

    And Philosopher, he was a This Life path Awakened One.

    Luo Ling’s expression turned serious. Fortunately, her original body had a natural cloaking effect, and she never transformed into her White Witch form without her domain, leaving no detectable traces.

    Although she had been cautious, she would be even more careful now.

    “But there’s one more thing, Luo Ling… don’t you think your makeup is a bit… much?”

    Fiona studied Luo Ling’s face, unable to suppress her amusement. “Even I’m struggling to see you through rose-tinted glasses. You look like you just escaped from a mental hospital.”

    “Really? I think it’s fine.”

    “Fine…?”

    Fiona touched Luo Ling’s face, her fingers coated in powder.

    “Here, let me fix it for you.”

    Fiona sighed, taking out a small makeup kit from her bag, and began fixing Luo Ling’s makeup.

    “As the general manager of the Victoria Opera House, I can’t let you go out looking like this… hey, don’t move.”

    Luo Ling giggled, then quickly suppressed it, her face twitching slightly as Fiona continued.

    After a while, Fiona clapped her hands, satisfied. “Alright, although not perfect… it’s much better than before.”

    Luo Ling looked at herself in the mirror, feeling like Fiona had simply removed her previous makeup… but looking closer, she did look different.

    More heroic, and strangely familiar.

    Luo Ling quickly realized why.

    “This looks like Linna!”

    Luo Ling looked up, seeing Fiona’s mischievous smile.

    “As payment for crafting the Sacred Tool—I accept.” Fiona mimed eating. “I’m very satisfied, Miss Luo Ling.”

    Fiona stood up and left, leaving the clock Sacred Tool on the table.

    Luo Ling picked it up, wanting to return it, but Fiona was gone.

    A note, still slightly wet, lay on the table.

    “Even the Torchbearers sent you high-order Sacred Medicines, how could I be less generous? Keep the Sacred Tool… I have plenty.”

    Luo Ling remained silent for a moment, then put the Sacred Tool away, sighing.

    “Aunt this, Aunt that… I feel like I’m being kept.”

  • Reincarnated as a Holy Nun, I Refuse to Lose! 80

    Chapter 80: Assault on the Church

    Luo Yuxi and Doris entered Apal without any resistance. Doris looked around at the luxurious buildings and passing nuns with interest.

    “I didn’t expect the Church to be like this. It’s actually quite a beautiful city~”

    “Hmm? What kind of Church have you seen before…?”

    Luo Yuxi asked weakly. Doris stroked the marble wall beside her.

    “The last time I saw a Church-controlled city was when we attacked. A good fight with high-Order powerhouses, rubble everywhere, and helpless nuns~”

    Luo Yuxi realized Doris was talking about the conflicts between the Church and the Witch Kingdom described in the game’s backstory. So Doris had participated in those battles. Well, she was one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

    “So what’s your purpose here, as a witch…?”

    “I knew it. Although you’re cute, being acquainted with those bishops, you couldn’t possibly be just an ordinary little girl~”

    Doris crouched down, touching the ground as if sensing something. Luo Yuxi backed away warily. Doris pressed her hand against the ground, and a massive crater appeared in the center of the city.

    “Found it. So it’s here~”

    “What are you doing?!”

    “Alright, goal achieved, target found. Taking a pet back shouldn’t be a problem~”

    “Don’t! Don’t come any closer!”

    [Divine Art: Holy Flame]

    Luo Yuxi looked at the chasm beneath her feet, thankfully standing on a magically reinforced platform, preventing her from falling. She looked at Doris, realizing she had been fooled by her temporary gentleness. Doris was one of the Seven Deadly Sins, after all.

    “So in your eyes, I’m just a pet…”

    “If you say so. I do like your type~”

    Doris reached out to Luo Yuxi, who closed her eyes in despair. A loud boom echoed through the air. When Luo Yuxi opened her eyes, Doris had been blasted back by a massive beam of light.

    “19th Squadron of the Royal Guard, threat detected! Spear of Judgment, target hit, no damage!”

    Doris glared at the Royal Guard, a group of soldiers in blue armor, surrounding the crater. A ballista radiating holy power was clearly the source of the attack.

    “The Royal Guard? Mere dust, not even a fraction of my power…”

    Doris cracked her knuckles, her eyes glowing red, a wave of killing intent washing over Luo Yuxi, making her shiver. Doris brushed her white hair aside.

    [Unique Magic: Slaughter]

    “Lowly weaklings should be dealt with accordingly.”

    Doris, her body enveloped in red magic power, attacked the Royal Guard. Although not at full power, the casual attack radiated a deadly aura.

    “The Church’s honor shall not be violated, the Church’s people shall not be harmed. If you fight, I will be the last wall…”

    [Greater Divine Art: Goddess’ Favor]
    [Divine Art: Encourage]
    [Divine Art: Holy Armor]

    As the smoke cleared, Doris looked at a heavily armored figure emerging from the ranks of the Royal Guard, a giant shield held high. A clear female voice, filled with a sense of security, calmed even Luo Yuxi.

    “4th Order, finally someone interesting~”

    Luo Yuxi looked at the armored figure, each step accompanied by the clang of metal, the massive shield almost two meters tall. The familiar panel appeared.

    [Baromets]

    Occupation: Bishop
    Affiliation: Church
    Skills: ???
    Title: Seat of Loyalty, Commander of the Royal Guard
    Affection: 40%
    Order Level: 4th Order

    Luo Yuxi remembered seeing her at the meeting, a shy figure sitting quietly in the corner, only speaking at the very end before leaving.

    “This is the true Shield of the Church! This is getting exciting~!”

    As Luo Yuxi spoke, Doris punched the shield, denting the half-meter-thick metal. Baromets stumbled back.

    “Three points for strength, not bad…”

    “9th and 12th Divisions of the Royal Guard, fire Judgment’s Gift! 13th and 19th Divisions, reload!”

    Two massive beams of light shot towards Doris from both sides. Doris simply pressed her hands downwards, redirecting the beams into the crater.

    “The same trick won’t work twice…”

    Doris punched the shield again, shattering it completely. Baromets was sent flying, crashing through several buildings before collapsing.

    “Boring. Die, all of you…”

    [Unique Magic: Shatter]

    Doris raised her hand, aiming at Baromets, the space distorting, as if about to tear apart. Luo Yuxi, seeing the bishop defeated so easily, frantically searched for a solution.

    [Sacrificial Divine Art: Scales of Justice]

    “Something big is happening…”

    Doris felt a shift in her vision, her attack missing its target by more than ten meters. She turned slowly, looking at the woman standing beside Luo Yuxi.

    “So you can control three 2nd Order witches. It must be quite a strain, or one of them wouldn’t have gone berserk…”

    “It wasn’t me—”

    “It’s okay, tell me later~”

    Luo Yuxi looked at Lika, who, despite being blind, could sense Doris’s location. Even knowing Doris was a 2nd Order, she still stood her ground.

    “3rd Order? You should know that with each Order level, the difference in power is like heaven and earth…”

    “I know, that’s why I brought some helpers~”

    Lika removed the cloth covering her eyes. Doris, looking at her lifeless eyes, felt a surge of anger, as if she was being looked down upon.

    “Even a swarm of ants is still just—”

    [Unique Magic: Submersion]
    [Unique Magic: Infatuation]

    Doris’s senses, even her control over her body, faded, as if she was being pulled into an endless void.

    “Really, big sister is such a weakling. You can’t do anything without us, truly a weakling big sister~”

    “Big sister, are you okay? We’re here to help…”

    Luo Yuxi looked at the two lolis, feeling like she was being rescued by heroes. She wanted to hug them, but their expressions were strange.

    “Are you really big sister?”

    “You seem smaller…”

    Luo Yuxi realized she was still in her loli form and was about to explain when a powerful killing intent erupted. Doris, snapping her finger to regain consciousness through pain, glared at them.

    “A witch helping the Church? A traitor! This is getting interesting~”

    “Don’t blame us for a two-on-one, you’re one of the Seven Deadly Sins, after all…”

    Yun Keke glared at Doris, unfazed by the accusation of betrayal. Witches fought for their own desires, the Witch Kingdom was just a temporary alliance. Doris smiled.

    “How could this be a two-on-one~?”

    A massive beam of light shot out from the crater. Herolise emerged, her dark eyes chilling, the chains and seals on her body breaking. Luo Yuxi realized Doris had intentionally redirected the attacks into the crater.

    “The Greed Witch and Wrath. Two of the Seven Deadly Sins. Little Yu, stay close…”

    “Don’t worry, Little Yun, I’ll be careful…”

    Yun Keke felt the oppressive aura of the two witches in the sky. Both Doris and Yun Keke were 2nd Order, but there were differences in strength within the same Order. And there was also the unpredictable Greed Witch.

    “Now it’s a two-on-two, perfectly fair~”

  • Malicious Female Lead’s Guide to Causing Trouble [Quick Transmigration] 56p1

    Chapter Fifty-Six p1

    Bo Chi’s face flushed red, and she angrily tried to push Yu Zhao away.

    Yu Zhao, however, took the opportunity to squeeze into the bathtub, played with the soft and smooth mounds, and chuckled: “The play is over, it’s time for us to take a bath and sleep.“

    Bo Chi bit her lip, her eyes shimmering with spring water: “How is this taking a bath? You clearly want to do me!“

    “Yes.” Yu Zhao readily admitted, and said with a smile: “I heard that doing it in the water is very interesting, let’s try it first. If you’re not satisfied, I can also change – how about the sofa? Or the table? Balcony? In front of the mirror?“

    Bo Chi whimpered, her breathing uneven: “Is, is the bed in the bedroom just for show? I just want to do it on the bed, okay!“

    Yu Zhao kissed the tip of her ear with a smile, and coaxed her without any sincerity: “Okay, okay, okay, I’ll listen to Little Wings, good baby, relax.“

    The mandarin duck bath lasted for more than half an hour, and finally ended before the water turned cold.

    Bo Chi was extremely sleepy, hanging in Yu Zhao’s arms, drowsy. Yu Zhao held her tightly, and gently and meticulously wiped her long hair with a dry towel.

    Although this matter was simple, it was very boring, but Yu Zhao was focused on it, like a fanatic cleaning the dust off a goddess statue, her movements filled with a sense of worship.

    After drying the satin-like black hair, Yu Zhao carried Bo Chi to the bed. Just as she let go and stood up, the phone on the bedside table suddenly lit up, indicating a new message.

    Yu Zhao glanced at it, found that it was Bo Chi’s phone, and didn’t intend to read it.

    However, several messages came in a row, and the notification sound kept ringing, so loud that Bo Chi turned over in bed, muttering something incomprehensible, her tone seemingly cursing.

    If this sound continued, Bo Chi would sooner or later get angry and get out of bed.

    Yu Zhao naturally didn’t want this to happen. She picked up the phone, turned off the sound first, then looked at the screen, preparing to see if there was anything urgent at the company.

    As a result, when her gaze fell, she saw that the screen was full of messages from the same person.

    [Heart’s Desire: Why didn’t you tell me you have a girlfriend?]
    [Heart’s Desire: I’ve only been abroad for a few years, and you’ve already found a new love?]
    [Heart’s Desire: It seems that your liking for me was nothing more than this, little sister.]
    [Heart’s Desire: If it’s convenient, can we have a video call? I’m very curious about what your new girlfriend looks like, and whether she’s prettier than me.]
    [Heart’s Desire: Why are you ignoring me?]

    Just looking at these impolite words, Yu Zhao became alert, as if facing a great enemy. When she looked at the note Bo Chi had given this person, her expression immediately froze, her heart felt like it had been ripped open, and she felt a chill all over her body.

    Heart’s Desire?

    What a touching name.

    More implicit and subtle than ‘goddess’.

    More elegant and artistic than a name.

    This was probably the most beautiful and passionate note Bo Chi could think of, right?

    Yu Zhao clenched the phone tightly, her fingers turning white.

    She had difficulty breathing, her gaze fixed on the note, and she felt a sharp pain in her heart.

    Malice surged in her heart, and she moved her fingers, wanting to unlock the screen.

    The password interface popped up, and she first entered Bo Chi’s birthday, and after failing, she tried Bo Chi’s private phone number, work number, lucky number, and a series of other numbers.

    None of them were correct.

    Yu Zhao frowned, unable to swallow this, and continued to try, unwilling to give up.

    When she randomly tried her own birthday, the password interface suddenly disappeared, revealing the phone’s home page.

    The screen was unlocked.

    The password was not a number related to anyone, but only her date of birth.

    Yu Zhao was stunned, the anger and jealousy in her heart were like they had been doused with cold water, and suddenly extinguished.

    She stared at the phone, then looked at Bo Chi, who was sleeping soundly beside her. Finally, after a long silence, she decisively changed Ming Songrui’s note.

    That’s right, Heart’s Desire must be Bo Chi’s past. Only she was Bo Chi’s present and future!

    After changing the note, Yu Zhao still hadn’t given up on the idea of venting her anger. She grabbed Bo Chi’s hand, intertwined their fingers, then opened the camera, and took a picture from various angles.

    After choosing a good-looking photo that also showed the bed, she sent it to Ming Songrui, and replied bitchily: [Sorry, she’s resting in my bed right now. If you have anything, please wait until she wakes up tomorrow.]

    Not long after the message was sent, Ming Songrui typed back: [Are you Xiao Bo’s girlfriend? Does Xiao Bo know that you’re using her phone without permission?]

    [She’s not very nice to others, and especially hates people other than me touching her phone. You’d better apologize to her quickly, or when she gets angry, you, her girlfriend, might be fired immediately.]

    [By the way, tell Xiao Bo that I’m going back to China next week to celebrate my grandpa’s birthday, and ask her to pick me up at the airport.]

    [Of course, you can also not tell her. As for how angry she will be if she doesn’t pick me up, it’s up to your fate.]

    Yu Zhao held the phone, her beautiful eyes looking very cold under the light of the phone, her slender fingers moving, and sent the last message: [It’s none of your business, outsider, hehe.]

    After turning off the phone, Yu Zhao turned to look at Bo Chi.

    Bo Chi was sleeping soundly, curled up in the quilt like a cub, her skin fair and rosy, half of her face hidden in the quilt, and still shrinking downwards.

    Yu Zhao half-knelt on the bed, dug out her little face, and pulled the quilt to her neck, so that she wouldn’t suffocate herself in her sleep.

    After letting go, Yu Zhao stared at her carefree face for a long time, and finally said coldly: “With Ming Songrui like that, you still consider her your white moonlight? I think she’s more like a black moonlight… Little fool.“

    **

    The morning sunlight poured in from the window, and when it fell on Bo Chi’s face, her eyelashes trembled, and she woke up from her sleep.

    There was no one beside her pillow, and the tempting aroma wafted from the kitchen.

    Bo Chi finished washing up and walked over, hugged Yu Zhao’s back and rubbed against it, and said sweetly: “Good morning.“

    Yu Zhao turned around, first couldn’t help but kiss her, then lightly described what happened last night, and at the same time stared at Bo Chi’s expression.

    Bo Chi blinked, and said casually: “Don’t listen to her nonsense, I’m not familiar with her, how could I go pick her up? As for the note, as long as you’re happy, you can change it to ‘piggy’.“

    Yu Zhao’s eyebrows relaxed, the corners of her lips curled up, her face full of undisguised joy, and her tone light: “I understand, you go get the bowls and chopsticks, I’ll bring the porridge to the table.“

    After breakfast, Bo Chi went to work with a bitter face, and Yu Zhao continued to study the script at home.

    When she came back at night, they would watch TV and eat fruit together, and rehearse randomly when they were interested. Often, during the rehearsal, they would end up making love in various places at home.

    Time passed slowly, and soon it was Mr. Ming’s birthday banquet.

    Monica’s dress had already been delivered. It was a low-key and luxurious grayish-black evening dress, with several lace black butterflies overlapping at the neckline, ready to take flight. It not only showed Yu Zhao’s cold temperament, but also complemented her fair skin and beautiful face.

    Bo Chi’s was the opposite, a pure white off-the-shoulder long dress, with several small pearls dotted at the neckline and waist, and the skirt was covered with small diamonds. When she walked, the skirt was like the night sky, twinkling with brilliant starlight.

    Bo Chi liked these two dresses very much, and asserted: “This is definitely a couple’s outfit!“

    Yu Zhao was noncommittal, her focus on another matter: “You didn’t go to pick up Ming Songrui, hasn’t she come to you these days?“

    Bo Chi was confused: “No, why do you always think about her?“

    The girl’s tone was suspicious, and she looked unhappy, as if she was jealous.

    Yu Zhao raised her eyebrows and pinched her face: “I should be the one who’s jealous, why are you glaring at me?“

    Bo Chi hummed: “I don’t always focus on other people.“

    “That’s not what I call focusing.” Yu Zhao explained leisurely: “I want to figure out what my rival is going to do next.“

    For example, Ming Songrui, she hadn’t made any moves these days, and it was very likely that she was preparing to make trouble at the banquet later.

    Yu Zhao could almost guess what tone the other party would use to mention this matter, and what posture she would use to mislead Bo Chi into misunderstanding her.

    If it were when she had just gotten together with Bo Chi, Yu Zhao might still be worried and alert, but after many times of pulling back and forth, she already had basic confidence in Bo Chi.

    Even if everyone said that Bo Chi liked someone else, even if Bo Chi had indeed had a deep affection for Ming Songrui before, so what?

    Now, the only person by Bo Chi’s side was her.

    The orange sun set below the horizon, and the brilliant sunset dyed the sky crimson.

    As the departure time approached, Assistant Xu answered the phone and came to Bo Chi’s villa. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Bo Chi, who had changed into a white dress, throwing herself into Yu Zhao’s arms. Her usually cold face was full of smiles, and her voice was sweet and seductive.

    The black and white dresses intertwined, like twin flowers that would never be separated until death. It was beautiful, but it also hurt Xu Zhidie’s eyes.

    She pursed her lips, concealed the strangeness in her expression, and said calmly: “CEO Bo, Miss Yu, it’s time to leave.“

    Bo Chi then noticed her presence, hurriedly came out of Yu Zhao’s arms, tidied up her dress, and changed back to the cold CEO: “Okay, let’s go.”

    Yu Zhao smiled and followed. When passing by Xu Zhidie, she sincerely thanked her: “Thank you, Assistant Xu, for coming to drive us.“

    Xu Zhidie lowered her eyes and said politely: “You’re welcome, this is what I should do.“

    After getting in the car, Xu Zhidie sat in the driver’s seat, and Bo Chi led Yu Zhao into the back seat.

    Mindful of the assistant’s presence, Bo Chi maintained her image with reserve, and didn’t fool around with Yu Zhao.

    Unexpectedly, Yu Zhao teased her in return. After teasing her a few times, Bo Chi burst out laughing, and couldn’t help but become lovey-dovey with her again.

    The two of them were constantly emitting pink bubbles in the back seat.

    Completely unaware that Xu Zhidie in the front seat was staring at them through the rearview mirror.

    Mr. Ming’s banquet was held at a private restaurant, and the restaurant was booked out, requiring an invitation to enter. Before meeting Yu Zhao, Bo Chi always attended such banquets with Assistant Xu. Now that Yu Zhao was here, she smiled as soon as she got out of the car: “I’ll give you a day off today, you go back and rest, I’ll take Yu Zhao in.”

    Xu Zhidie’s smile was a little faint, and she said gently: “Miss Yu is not good at talking business. It’s fine for her to accompany you to have fun, but for such serious matters, let me stay by your side.“

    Yu Zhao glanced at her when she heard this.

    Bo Chi didn’t notice the subtle change in the atmosphere, and waved her hand casually: “It’s okay, today’s banquet is ultimately a birthday celebration, it’s not important whether we talk business or not.”

    Hearing this, Xu Zhidie could only smile knowingly: “Okay, then I wish CEO Bo a pleasant time.“

    Bo Chi nodded and walked into the hotel with Yu Zhao.

    After taking two steps, Yu Zhao suddenly looked back, just in time to meet Xu Zhidie’s gaze, which was still fixed on Bo Chi.

    Bo Chi also turned her head, didn’t see anything strange, and asked Yu Zhao in confusion: “What’s wrong?“

    “Nothing.” Yu Zhao looked away, put her arm around Bo Chi’s waist, lowered her eyelashes and chuckled: “I just noticed that Assistant Xu wished you a pleasant time, but completely ignored me.“

    Bo Chi said casually: “Aren’t we together? Wishing me well is the same as wishing you well.“

    Yu Zhao smiled, but shook her head in her heart.

    How could it be the same?

    This kind of subtle favoritism, hidden attention, and persistent unwillingness to let go, all showed that Xu Zhidie’s thoughts… were different from others.

    Yu Zhao’s arm around Bo Chi tightened a bit. She didn’t tell Bo Chi her guess, firstly because she didn’t want Bo Chi to worry, and secondly because she didn’t want Bo Chi to focus on this assistant.

    Since the other party wanted to hide it, she didn’t mind helping her hide it for the rest of her life.

    After entering the restaurant, Bo Chi and Yu Zhao had only taken two steps when someone came up to greet them. Compared to others who had to show their invitations to be allowed in, while Bo Chi only needed to show her face to smoothly enter, it could be seen how important Bo Chi, this ‘sponsor’, was.

    Many people came to strike up conversations and chat, but these people often changed the subject in surprise after noticing Yu Zhao’s face: “This is…“

    “My girlfriend.” Bo Chi said with a smile: “Her name is Yu Zhao, and she’s planning to enter the entertainment industry recently. Please do me a favor and take care of her.“

    With her status, she didn’t need to say much. The people who surrounded her naturally nodded in agreement, and said cheerfully: “Of course, of course.“

    Unfortunately, there were always people in the crowd who lacked emotional intelligence. After staring at Yu Zhao for a long time, they said in confusion: “Am I the only one who thinks Miss Yu looks familiar, a bit like…“

    Before he could finish speaking, a female voice interjected, her voice mature, carrying confidence and flamboyance: “Long time no see, little sister of the Bo family.”

    Everyone turned around, and when they saw the woman clearly, they subconsciously took a few steps back, making way for her.

    Bo Chi looked up and saw that the newcomer was wearing a floor-length fishtail dress, her figure extremely enchanting, her red lips seductive, like a ripe fruit on a branch, tempting others to pick it.

    She and Yu Zhao did look very much alike, their beautiful eyes and eyebrows making people believe that they were family, but their temperaments were completely different. Ming Songrui was a proper older sister, with an arrogant posture, aggressive eyes, and a strong possessiveness – Bo Chi could be very sure that she didn’t like the original owner, so she could easily see that she came here this time not because of jealousy, but because she was dissatisfied that her licking dog had been taken away by someone else.

    This kind of person probably belonged to the type who, even if they didn’t want something of their own, would rather throw it in a corner to gather dust and never see the light of day than let others have it.

    Yu Zhao was different. Although she always had a cold face, elegant and indifferent, not as eye-catching as Ming Songrui, Bo Chi knew that Yu Zhao was a kind-hearted person. Once she received kindness from others, she would always silently remember it in her heart and find an opportunity to repay it.

    So every time someone said that Yu Zhao looked like Ming Songrui, Bo Chi would be very unconvinced.

    What do you mean ‘like’?

    Where do they look alike?

    Was Ming Songrui even one-thousandth as good as her wife?

    If not, then don’t try to associate yourself with her!

    “What, are you so happy to see me back that you can’t speak?“

    Bo Chi’s reaction was too indifferent. Ming Songrui narrowed her eyes, walked up to Bo Chi, raised Bo Chi’s pointed chin with a seemingly smiling finger, and said leisurely: “Actually, I sent you a message before, asking you to come pick me up at the airport if you had the chance, but it was your little girlfriend who replied at that time. Now it seems that she didn’t tell you about this?“

    Bo Chi slapped her hand away, and said under her suddenly stiffening expression: “Please speak properly, Miss Ming, don’t touch me, and don’t try to sow discord between me and my girlfriend. Yu Zhao told me that you would be back, but I think our relationship is average, and we’re not good friends who must pick each other up at the airport. Plus, in order to avoid making my girlfriend angry, I didn’t go.”

  • A Girl Dies Every Day in Her Dream Life 150

    Chapter 150: Slaying the Behemoth, The War Ends

    Ninth level of the falling Suspended High Tower 132.

    Ceres, holding Ling Ling’s hand, witnessed a scene unprecedented in human history, a sight so impactful that she could only feel awe.

    She was lucky to be one of the few witnesses to this momentous battle.

    Ling Ling, also a witness, was searching for Luo Xue. Unable to find her, a sad expression appeared on her face.

    “Where’s Sister Xue’er? Sister Xue’er… isn’t gone, is she…”

    Ceres’s gaze lowered slightly, looking at the insignificant speck of light beneath the monstrous, distorted deep space behemoth.

    The gradually dimming light indicated that the disaster engine was overloaded to its limit. Even the aircraft had disintegrated, only the bare engine core was still barely operational.

    “Miss Luo Xue… should have completed her mission.”

    Ceres tightened her grip on Ling Ling’s hand. She didn’t dare to say that Luo Xue’s life was in danger.

    Not to mention how long Luo Xue could survive at five thousand meters, facing the wrath of a deep space behemoth, even the war machine patrol fortresses were at risk of being destroyed.

    However… Miss Luo Xue had done it. She had protected the entire Suspended High Tower, buying them enough time.

    Although she hadn’t completely killed the deep space behemoth, it was still an incredible feat, making her the undisputed strongest human.

    “After she’s done, will Sister Xue’er come back?”

    Ling Ling looked up at Ceres, hoping for a hopeful answer.

    Ceres hesitated, then sighed softly.

    “She should.”

    “Okay!”

    Ling Ling nodded vigorously, then continued looking out the observation window, her small face serious, still searching for Luo Xue.

    Seeing Ling Ling like this, Ceres could only sigh inwardly again.

    She looked at the dimming speck of light, intending to witness the end of this human hero.

    Just then, Ling Ling suddenly tugged on Ceres’s clothes, pointing excitedly towards the deep space behemoth.

    “Sister Ceres, look, it’s Sister Xue’er! I found her!”

    Ceres followed Ling Ling’s finger and her pupils constricted instantly.

    “Miss Luo Xue, how…”

    She saw that the dimming speck of light was now shining brightly again, moving even faster towards the deep space behemoth.

    “Is she really planning to kill the deep space behemoth? That’s… impossible, right?”

    Severing a claw of the deep space behemoth single-handedly was enough to be recorded in human history. If she single-handedly defeated a deep space behemoth… it wasn’t just a matter of recording it, it was something no one dared to even imagine!

    “But why hasn’t Sister Xue’er come back yet…”

    Ling Ling said, resting her chin on her hand, looking troubled.

    Ceres remained silent, holding her breath.

    Could Miss Luo Xue really do it?

    Was she about to witness history again…

    At this moment, the Federal Military, which hadn’t yet reached the battlefield, was even more shocked.

    But they admired Luo Xue’s courage even more. After all, not everyone dared to face a deep space behemoth directly, without any protection, and even launch an attack.

    As for killing a deep space behemoth… they didn’t even dare to think about it, because no one knew the behemoth’s true strength better than them.

    But even so, this speck of light, charging against the tide, would forever shine brightly in the history of the new human civilization.

    “She’s getting closer…”

    “Five hundred meters, four hundred meters, three hundred meters…”

    “Just how close is she planning to get…”

    A few hundred meters, for a creature the size of a deep space behemoth, was practically point-blank range.

    The distorted monster extended its body, approaching Luo Xue.

    The overwhelming stench reminded Luo Xue of her final battle against the Primordial Mother in the Immortal Martial World.

    “But you’re still much uglier than her… At least she still looked somewhat humanoid…”

    Luo Xue muttered inwardly, gripping the dagger formed from a spatial fold. The surrounding formation runes were collapsing, and the engine core, which powered the entire Suspended High Tower, was reaching its limit.

    However… this time, there was no withering aura.

    Because Luo Xue’s body couldn’t withstand another use of the Sword of Withering, but this time… she still used a law-level sword intent.

    A different law, completely different from withering.

    —”Space-Time.”

    The Sword Intent of Space-Time.

    “Time flies like an arrow…”

    Luo Xue swung her sword lightly. It was a simple, unadorned move, but executed with practiced precision, comparable to an inner disciple of the Peerless Summit Sect.

    Without any fancy movements, just a simple sword strike, separating day from night.

    And where the sword light passed, space began to collapse around the deep space behemoth, even its timeline became distorted.

    One moment it was a collection of matter, not yet fully formed, the next it was flesh and blood decaying for hundreds, even thousands, of years.

    The distorted space-time devoured the deep space behemoth, its entire being falling into the endless void within the spatial cracks.

    “Weng—”

    A low, humming sound, the deep space behemoth’s angry roar, echoed through the sky, but it was futile.

    “Careful, it’s a mental attack!”

    The Federal Military, seeing this, was shocked, and the commander shouted urgently into his communicator,

    “Evade immediately! Repeat, evade immediately! Damn it, shouldn’t this be used as a last resort…”

    In the Federal Military’s view, they could only see the speck of light disappearing into the deep space behemoth, then the behemoth started struggling, as if in its final throes.

    “That kid who called herself an immortal, what did she do…”

    Luo Xue wanted to sheathe her sword, but it seemed unnecessary now.

    Her sword was essentially a spatial fold, but now, the surroundings were filled with shattered spatial folds and a chaotic timeline, the most chaotic place in the world.

    After extracting the spatial fold to form Luo Xue’s dagger, Qualcomm had silently died high in the sky, his body nowhere to be found, perhaps buried within some shattered spatial rift.

    Some might call him a hero, some might be willing to follow his ideals, and perhaps he was right…

    But he was also a madman, a ruthless executioner with blood on his hands.

    Luo Xue could never agree with Qualcomm’s actions. Being buried in the unknown depths of space, along with his ideals, was the best judgment for him.

    Now…

    The dying deep space behemoth was still trying to invade Luo Xue’s mind, but it didn’t know that this would only hasten its demise.

    After using the Sword of Withering, Luo Xue had practically become the embodiment of withering, a being more terrifying than any plague. Nothing could escape withering, even if it could hardly be defined as life.

    Countless mental attacks bombarded Luo Xue’s soul, making her slightly dazed, not because the deep space behemoth’s mental attacks were too powerful, but because she didn’t resist.

    Because some people could only be seen in the deepest recesses of her subconscious…

    The disaster engine had completely collapsed, its core formation disintegrated.

    Luo Xue, alone, suspended five thousand meters in the sky, slowly closed her eyes, completing her final sword strike.

    The deep space behemoth suddenly thrashed madly, even without sentience, it felt an instinctive fear, trying to escape this area.

    The surrounding dark clouds churned, countless substances re-aggregating. The deep space behemoth was willing to pay any price, but it couldn’t stop this sword.

    A giant spatial fold slowly appeared, a strong “string vibration” phenomenon occurring, completely tearing apart the deep space behemoth’s body.

    “Weng…”

    Even its final roar was weak and desperate. The behemoth’s massive body began to split from within, its flesh and blood scattering.

    From below, it looked like a brilliant firework made of flesh and blood, perhaps the most beautiful moment in the deep space behemoth’s short life.

    The deep space behemoth was dead.

    Thirty minutes after its arrival, the crisis was over. Humanity’s only loss was a disaster engine.

    When the patrol fortresses finally arrived, they only saw the behemoth’s remains, still floating in the air, gradually falling.

    “My god…”

    The military commander, personally present at the scene, sensing the aftermath of this magnificent battle, was speechless, only able to express his shock with an ancient exclamation.

    Only by being here, facing the terrifying remains of the deep space behemoth, could one truly feel the incredibility of this battle.

    She had actually killed a deep space behemoth alone…

    This was a monster that even the combined forces of all patrol fortresses would need months to defeat.

    Even if it wasn’t fully formed upon arrival, the deep space behemoth still possessed all its abilities: its powerful regenerative ability, its terrifying mental attacks, and its inescapable biological contamination, all weapons that could render humanity helpless.

    But before Luo Xue, the regenerative ability was useless against withering, and the mental attacks and biological contamination were also ineffective.

    Then, the commander realized the significance of this hero, who had single-handedly defeated the deep space behemoth, and immediately ordered,

    “Approach the behemoth’s remains, find the hero!”

    Even if it was just her remains…

    “But, but…” The adjutant hesitated. “Even after death, deep space behemoths carry a strong mental contamination… Approaching rashly might be dangerous.”

    “Overload the patrol fortress engines, activate the full containment system, and approach the behemoth’s remains immediately!” The commander said softly. “We’re already late, we can’t be late again.”

    What if the hero was still alive, and their hesitation caused her death…

    That was an unacceptable outcome.

    The adjutant was silent for a moment, then nodded.

    “Yes, sir.”

    Soon, several patrol fortresses began cleaning the battlefield before the danger had even completely passed, and the search for the hero’s remains also began.

    Whether they found the hero alive or dead, it was of great significance to humanity.

    At the same time, after a long descent, Suspended High Tower 132 finally landed, completing a non-standard docking with the ground.

    Having lost its disaster engine, the Suspended High Tower couldn’t adjust its position mid-air and could only rely on its remaining docking systems to ensure a safe landing.

    Fortunately, the landing site was a plain, and the Suspended High Tower didn’t crash, but the damage exceeded 10%.

    There were many casualties among the Tower People on the lower three levels, especially those living near the docking facility, where the casualty rate exceeded 30%.

    However, no matter what…

    Suspended High Tower 132 had survived this crisis.

    But it had also become the first Suspended High Tower without a disaster engine… No, it should now be called just a Tower City.

    This might become the first Tower City located on the endless wasteland, and the Tower People within would face the same predicament as the Wastelanders.

    Facing the ubiquitous natural disasters and calamities, every day of survival was a blessing.

    On the ninth level of the Tower City, Ling Ling stared blankly at the sky through the dusty observation window.

    Her gaze was fixed on the deep space behemoth’s remains, which had become a small speck in the distance, hoping that the person she missed would descend from the heavens and return to her.

    Ceres sat beside her in silence. She knew… how great Luo Xue’s sacrifice was.

    But… the price was that this world had lost a serious and unsmiling girl forever.

    “Sister Xue’er… will it be a long time before she comes back?”

    Ling Ling finally retracted her gaze and looked at Ceres.

    Ceres didn’t speak, just looked at Ling Ling.

    She had expected to see hopeful eyes, or perhaps sadness from knowing the truth, but Ling Ling’s gaze was calm.

    Ling Ling… seemed to have known all along, and she had already accepted it.

    Being looked at by such eyes, Ceres opened her mouth, the prepared words reaching her throat, but she couldn’t say anything, only nodding slightly.

    “Yes…”

    “Did Sister Xue’er succeed?” Ling Ling asked again.

    This time, Ceres nodded vigorously.

    “Yes.”

    “As expected, Sister Xue’er is the best!”

    Ling Ling sighed, walked to the observation window, raised her small hand, and gently touched the glass, as if caressing Sister Xue’er in the sky above.

    “Sister Ceres, can you promise me something?” Ling Ling suddenly turned and said.

    “…Tell me.”

    “Can you… not dismantle the laboratory?”

    Ling Ling’s small face was serious. “I want to do something amazing. Even if I can’t compare to Sister Xue’er, I still want her to praise me when she comes back.”

    Ceres’s eyes flickered slightly, and she lowered her eyelids.

    “Of course… no problem.”

  • Reincarnated as a Holy Nun, I Refuse to Lose! 79

    Chapter 79: Unexpected Developments

    Luo Yuxi, wearing clothes Doris had found somewhere, felt utterly defeated. She had been stuck with Doris for almost a whole day, finding no chance to escape. Doris was acting nothing like the Wrath Witch she remembered.

    “Little sister, are you hungry? Big sister will make you something delicious~”

    “You must have been scared last time. Come, relax in big sister’s arms~”

    “These clothes are a bit thin, let big sister warm you up~”

    …

    Doris had been clinging to her all day, calling her “little sister” and acting incredibly affectionate, almost like a real older sister. Even someone with a weakness for cute things wouldn’t go this far.

    “This can’t continue. I’m playing into her hands right now. What if I change back to my normal body? She might tear me apart…”

    Luo Yuxi shivered, pulling the oversized clothes tighter around her. She had to get Doris to the Church. There was a protective barrier around it; anyone unregistered would trigger an alarm.

    “Then the high-Order members of the Church will intercept her, and I can escape in the chaos. It’s a bit underhanded, but it’s better than being taken to the Witch Kingdom…”

    Luo Yuxi looked at Doris, whose gaze was becoming increasingly fervent, and felt a sense of unease. If she didn’t do something soon, she would be taken back as a pet. She imagined her future:

    “I’m home, little cutie, did you miss me~?”

    “Master, you’re finally back! Do you want dinner first, a bath, or… me~?”

    Luo Yuxi imagined herself wearing cat ears and a revealing apron, alone while Doris was away, then having to cook and warm the bed for her upon her return, eventually being “transformed” into a witch.

    “No, no, even novels have to have plot progression! This is skipping straight to the final stage…”

    Luo Yuxi looked at Doris, who had just gotten dressed. With her black hair and eyes, she looked quite gentle. But once in battle mode, her hair turned silver, her eyes glowed red, and her slender hands could tear anything apart. She was pure chaos.

    “Um… I… I remember where the Church is. I can take you there, could you please let me go…?”

    Luo Yuxi asked cautiously, afraid of angering Doris. She was still “unwrapped,” making it easy for Doris to “use” her. She glanced at her own skin beneath the clothes, even more delicate than before. She couldn’t withstand a witch’s “ravages.”

    “Hmm? Church? What church? Why would I go to the Church?”

    Luo Yuxi’s heart sank as she saw Doris pick her up, ready to leave. So she had forgotten her purpose. If Luo Yuxi had waited any longer, they would have reached their destination.

    “You were just asking how to get to the Church…”

    “Oh, right, I almost forgot. Then lead the way, little cutie~”

    Doris put Luo Yuxi down, as if she had just remembered. Luo Yuxi pointed in the general direction. It wasn’t far, but it would still take a day to walk there. She could use a divine art to send a message to the Church.

    “Just keep going in that direction, and you’ll reach Apal, the Church’s largest city. After passing through a few towns, it should take about a day…”

    “Oh, I see~”

    Luo Yuxi, seeing Doris thinking, took out a communication scroll. Just as she was about to activate it, the scene shifted. They were no longer in the forest, but before a towering city wall.

    “So this is their headquarters. I could destroy this place alone. Let the feast begin~”

    Doris’s black hair turned silver, her eyes glowed red, and her magic power surged, abandoning all pretense of stealth.

    “Let’s see how strong the one who defeated Greed is~!!”

    Luo Yuxi had been worried about how to contact the Church, but with this level of magic power, Doris was practically screaming “witch.” As expected, within moments, six of the 12 bishops appeared.

    “Thank goodness, I’m saved! I’ll sneak away while they’re fighting…”

    Luo Yuxi moved to the side, while Doris looked at the six bishops and sneered.

    “The strongest is only 3rd Order. Greed might not be high-level, but she’s troublesome. How did these guys defeat her…?”

    Despite being in battle mode, Doris wasn’t enraged. The “wrath” was just a metaphor. She calmly assessed the situation, her outward frenzy a mere facade. After confirming there were no immediate threats, she prepared to end the fight quickly.

    “Luo Yuxi? What? It’s you? You should have told us you were coming back, you scared us…”

    Yuehua Fengyun’s words made the bishops lower their guard. Luo Yuxi was stunned. Yuehua Fengyun had drawn everyone’s attention to her.

    “W-What about me? I… I was just passing by!”

    “Oh my, it really is Luo Yuxi~”

    Lika, the Seat of Sacrifice, smiled. Doris, seeing no hostility, also calmed down and looked curiously at the pink-haired loli.

    “You… know them?”

    “No, not at all! They’ve mistaken me for someone else!”

    Luo Yuxi panicked, wondering why Yuehua Fengyun had called her out. She wanted them to fight! The bishops whispered among themselves:

    Mercy: That scared me, I thought the Witch Kingdom was attacking. Turns out it was her.

    Sacrifice: It’s Luo Yuxi’s voice, but she feels smaller, according to my magic sensing.

    Judgment: That witch beside her is dangerous…

    Mercy: Luo Yuxi’s Order level is 10, she must have controlled another one…

    Honesty: I… I’m just a support, why am I here…?

    …

    Luo Yuxi, looking at the whispering bishops, was confused. A powerful witch was right there, what were they discussing? If she were stronger, she would have joined the fight herself.

    “Alright, we’re done. Although you have a special ability, please inform us next time you bring a witch. We bishops are busy…”

    “????”

    Yuehua Fengyun opened a path in the barrier, allowing them to enter. Luo Yuxi looked at the departing bishops, stunned. Doris was also confused.

    “When did the Church become so easy to talk to? It’s a shame we didn’t fight, but it saved some time…”

    Doris deactivated her battle mode and looked at the motionless Luo Yuxi. She poked her a few times, then, seeing no reaction, picked her up. The bishops, seeing this, were even more convinced that Doris was under Luo Yuxi’s control.

    “Alright, let’s disperse. I rushed back from the autograph session…”

    “Mission…”

    “I’m out…”

    The bishops vanished. Luo Yuxi, in Doris’s arms, wanted to cry.

    “Don’t leave, come back… sob…”

    …

    Author:

    Punishment Nun outfit inspiration:

  • Captivating Beauty 57p2

    Chapter 57 p2

    —

    Xu Jinnan sat in her car outside the hospital for a while, lost in thought.

    She wasn’t tired; she had simply been unconsciously sitting there, her mind replaying everything that had happened – her sudden transmigration, the one-in-a-million secondary differentiation, the Xu family drama, the novel’s plot, even Yin Xue and the mysterious powder.

    Then, a word came to mind – destined.

    She chuckled softly, finding her own train of thought amusing.

    But she couldn’t deny the lingering unease, the subtle discomfort she had been trying to suppress, but which kept resurfacing.

    The window was open, letting in the cool autumn breeze, a welcome relief from the lingering summer heat. She checked the time; it would be a few more hours before nightfall.

    She stayed at the office until past 8 p.m., working non-stop, barely having time for a drink of water, finally finishing her tasks.

    When she arrived home at 9 p.m., the bathroom door opened, and Shen Shu emerged, her hair wrapped in a towel, wearing a two-piece pajama set.

    It was new; Xu Jinnan had never seen it before – a pale pink, with small strawberries embroidered along the edges.

    It was a slightly fitted design, but still loose on Shen Shu’s slender frame.

    Shen Shu glanced at Xu Jinnan, then walked towards the sofa, holding the towel with one hand. Xu Jinnan’s gaze followed her, lingering on the curve of her breasts, a small strawberry peeking out from the side…

    Xu Jinnan bit her lip, went to the kitchen island, washed her hands, poured herself a glass of water, and took a sip. “New pajamas?” she asked casually.

    “Yes, Cai Ying and I bought them the other day,” Shen Shu replied.

    She didn’t usually wear such cute styles, but the sales assistant had been very persuasive, and Cai Ying had encouraged her.

    “Xu Jinnan is used to your aloof image. A change of pace might spice things up a bit, don’t you think?”

    But Shen Shu hadn’t bought them for Xu Jinnan; she had simply wanted a change, a way to lift her own spirits.

    She looked up, her eyes meeting Xu Jinnan’s.

    Xu Jinnan nodded calmly. “They look good. Very good,” she said. Shen Shu’s pajamas were usually more mature and darker in color. This sudden change of style, like the dress she had worn the other day, was captivating.

    Xu Jinnan went to take a shower, not seeing the faint smile that touched Shen Shu’s lips as she turned away.

    —

    After a quick shower, Xu Jinnan joined Shen Shu on the sofa.

    They weren’t sitting close together, and the balcony window was open, letting in a cool breeze that carried the faint scent of Shen Shu’s pheromones.

    The only sound in the room was the laughter from the variety show on TV.

    After a while, Xu Jinnan asked casually, “You and Xia Chun knew each other before?”

    “We dated,” Shen Shu replied, her voice calm and unwavering.

    Xu Jinnan paused, then nodded. “Oh… that makes sense. No wonder.”

    “No wonder what?”

    “She’s very kind to you. And the way she looked at me at the restaurant and the banquet… it was strange.” She had assumed it was just one-sided affection, hence the subtle hostility towards Xu Jinnan.

    She mentally replayed Shen Shu’s words, We dated.

    Shen Shu’s tone was even, but her gaze, as she looked at Xu Jinnan, was slightly scrutinizing.

    “It was years ago. I didn’t think it was important,” she explained.

    And she didn’t want to talk about what she had been through during that time.

    Xu Jinnan hesitated. “How long were you together?”

    Shen Shu paused, then said, “A little over two years.”

    Xu Jinnan didn’t ask any further questions, sensing Shen Shu’s reluctance to discuss the topic. She didn’t want to pry.

    But Shen Shu, seeing her silence, asked, “That’s it?”

    Xu Jinnan shook her head. “That’s it. Why would I need to know more?”

    While she hadn’t asked much, she had a general understanding of the situation.

    On the drive back from the hospital, she had thought about it. So what if Xia Chun was Shen Shu’s “destined” partner in the novel? Based on their interactions, Xia Chun’s feelings were clearly one-sided.

    As for their past relationship…

    Xu Jinnan felt a strange mix of emotions. She knew Shen Shu didn’t have feelings for Xia Chun anymore, but two years was a long time.

    Lost in thought, she didn’t notice the shift in Shen Shu’s mood.

    “It’s not relevant to you anyway,” Shen Shu said coldly, standing up. “I’m going to bed.”

    Xu Jinnan was taken aback.

    “So early?”

    “Yes.”

    “What do you want for breakfast tomorrow?”

    “Nothing,” Shen Shu replied, her voice flat, not turning around.

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    Why is she suddenly upset?

    Shen Shu closed the bedroom door a little more forcefully than usual, the sound lingering in the air.

    She felt her emotions spiraling out of control.

    She hated this feeling of helplessness, like being adrift at sea, unable to steer the boat.

    Her phone vibrated on the bed.

    She walked over and checked it.

    Cai Ying: [Shu Shu, I forgot to ask, does your wife like the pajamas? Hee hee, did she find them irresistible~?]

    Shen Shu: “…”

    She stared at the message for a moment, then went to the wardrobe, taking out her old pajamas and changing out of the pink strawberry ones.

    —

    The next morning, Xu Jinnan had hoped to smooth things over during breakfast, but Shen Shu was gone.

    She had been busy for the past two days, working late, and they hadn’t seen each other at all.

    It was the first time in months.

    Xu Jinnan sensed something was wrong. Shen Shu was deliberately avoiding her.

    The online drama continued, with Xia Chun and Shen Shu’s fans forming an unlikely alliance, boosting each other’s popularity.

    Exchanging compliments and thanks, their polite interactions praised by bloggers as a model of fan behavior.

    Some even started shipping them as a couple.

    Xu Jinnan, during a break, checked out their super topic – “Sheng Xia” (a combination of their names).

    It was a much better name than hers and Shen Shu’s…

    Someone was even hosting a giveaway, offering a monthly prize of ten thousand yuan to three lucky winners.

    Not as generous as the giveaway in their own CP super topic.

    The “Sheng Xia” super topic had over five thousand followers.

    She checked the “NanShu” super topic; it had over twenty thousand.

    Not bad.

    Xu Jinnan felt a strange sense of satisfaction, then paused. Is this some kind of weird competitiveness?

    She scrolled through the comments on the “Sheng Xia” super topic.

    Sheng Xia is real! Share your CP origin story! I’ll go first. I was captivated by their photo together from Into the Dream!

    The comment had numerous replies.

    Xia Xia likes every single one of Shen Shen’s Weibo posts~ I’m shipping them!

    Xia Xia even reposted Shen Shen’s Weibo post, the one about the trending topic!

    And didn’t Xia Xia get injured protecting Shen Shen? Such a heroic moment! I can’t get enough of them!!!

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    Doesn’t anyone see the problem here?

    Then, she saw a comment: Seriously? She’s married, and you’re shipping her with someone else? That’s messed up.

    She immediately liked the comment.

    Then, she remembered her conversation with Shen Shu.

    —”Why would I need to know more?”

    —”It’s not relevant to you anyway.”

    Xu Jinnan didn’t like this cold war atmosphere, and she had a feeling she knew why Shen Shu was being distant.

    The group chat mentioned filming was resuming today, and she wanted to ask about the location, planning to visit after her meeting.

    As she parked, she saw a crowd gathered outside the building.

    The security guard, recognizing her car, approached her. “CEO Xu.”

    “Who are those people?”

    “Paparazzi. Didn’t a film crew rent space in the building?”

    Xu Jinnan remembered, then realized the timing was too coincidental.

    She took the elevator to the 26th floor and, as she stepped out, heard voices and glanced towards the large office area across the hall.

    She stopped, her gaze finding Shen Shu, dressed in a business suit, standing with a group of people.

    Xia Chun was standing opposite her.

    “They’re so beautiful! I’m obsessed!”

    “Shen Shu looks amazing! Beautiful women together are a feast for the eyes! Are they filming the entire drama here?”

    “I think so. Something happened at their previous location, so they moved here.”

    “You know, they would actually look good together… with CEO Xu.”

    One of the employees, glancing over and meeting Xu Jinnan’s gaze, gasped, startled.

    Xu Jinnan smiled faintly. “Good morning.”

    —

    Xu Jinnan messaged Tong Jia: [?]

    Tong Jia had been to her office before, but she had never mentioned Shen Shu filming here.

    Having seen Xu Jinnan just now, Tong Jia understood the question mark. She replied quickly.

    Tong Jia: [Surprise!]

    Tong Jia: [I’ve been so careful not to mention it in the group chat, so you wouldn’t find out.]

    Xu Jinnan: [Should I be grateful?]

    She overheard her employees’ conversation.

    Just then, Zhou Pei entered with some documents. “Did you know which production was filming here?” Xu Jinnan asked. Zhou Pei hadn’t mentioned it either.

    “No, the property manager handles those arrangements,” Zhou Pei replied, shaking her head.

    What a coincidence.

    “Tell everyone to be mindful of the film crew. No disturbances,” Xu Jinnan instructed.

    “Certainly.”

    —

    After Zhou Pei left, Xu Jinnan thought, This is actually quite convenient.

    She had been so busy lately, barely having time to talk to Shen Shu, but if they were in the same building, it would be easier to see each other during breaks.

    She couldn’t keep avoiding her.

    She messaged Tong Jia, inviting her to lunch in her office.

    Then, she went to a meeting.

    Shortly after the meeting started, she received a message from Tong Jia.

    [Showing off your love on the first day? Not cool.]

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    She didn’t reply, her mind on the meeting. By the time it ended, it was already lunchtime. She messaged Tong Jia: [Can’t make it today. Tomorrow?]

    Tong Jia: [Such a fickle woman.]

    —

    The meeting dragged on until 11:30 a.m.

    Her back ached from sitting for so long, and her stomach rumbled, having only had toast and milk for breakfast, not even bothering with eggs, since Shen Shu wasn’t there.

    As she left the meeting room, she asked Viola about lunch.

    “Someone from the film crew next door sent over a lunch box,” Viola replied.

    Xu Jinnan paused, then smiled. “Really?”

    Back in her office, she saw a paper bag on her desk. Inside, a perfectly prepared steak lunch, complete with sides.

    She took a picture and posted it on her Moments feed with a simple caption: Lunch.

    Then, she slowly savored the meal.

    —

    Meanwhile, Shen Shu closed her lunch box, and Tong Jia glanced at the uneaten food. “That’s all you’re eating? Is it not good? Honestly, CEO Xu is so clueless. Enjoying her steak lunch and posting about it online, not even caring if her wife has eaten.”

    “Can we order less next time? It’s such a waste,” Shen Shu said.

    “So, you prefer CEO Xu’s cooking? You always have such a good appetite at home,” Tong Jia commented.

    “…It’s fine,” Shen Shu replied calmly.

    “Shu Shu, have you two been fighting?” Tong Jia asked, lowering her voice.

    “No.”

    We haven’t even been talking, Shen Shu thought.

    She didn’t understand her own feelings, her thoughts tangled and confused, like weeds growing uncontrollably, one after another.

    She could only try to maintain her composure, to distance herself.

    But it wasn’t working…

    “Shu Shu, perfect timing! You haven’t finished eating yet,” Tan Jie’s voice said from behind them.

    They looked up.

    Tan Jie was holding a lunch box. “We ordered steak lunches. Want to try some? It’s low-calorie,” she said with a smile, her beauty captivating, drawing the attention of those around them.

    It would be rude to refuse, so Tong Jia accepted the lunch box, thanking her with a smile.

    “It’s nothing. I don’t like the food on set either,” Tan Jie replied, then added, “Oh, I sent one to Miss Xu as well. Ask her if she likes it. We can order more next time.”

    Both Shen Shu and Tong Jia’s smiles faltered.

    Tong Jia had even shown Shen Shu Xu Jinnan’s Moments post.

    —

    Xu Jinnan was reading a contract, taking small bites of her steak, when the door opened.

    It wasn’t a forceful entrance, but the person’s expression was grim, making the sound seem heavier than it was.

    “Xu Jinnan.”

    Xu Jinnan put down her steak, startled by Shen Shu’s expression – a mixture of hurt, anger, and something else she couldn’t quite place.

    Assuming she had been bullied on set, Xu Jinnan immediately stood up. “What’s wrong? Did someone give you trouble?”

    “I don’t care about your relationship with Tan Jie, but while we’re on set, please be more considerate,” Shen Shu said coldly.

    Xu Jinnan was confused. “What… I…”

    Before she could finish, Shen Shu continued, her voice flat and emotionless, “Since our marriage is just a contract, and you clearly don’t care, there’s no need to pretend. Let’s just end this charade and get a divorce.”

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    Shen Shu didn’t look at her again, simply turning and walking out, slamming the door behind her.

    Xu Jinnan’s hand rested on the door, her body leaning against it as she followed Shen Shu, a sigh escaping her lips.

    “Who said I don’t care?” she whispered.

  • Second Time Around, the Villainous Daughter Decides to Indulge First 48

    Chapter 48: A Whale Has Arrived

    Just standing outside, the roars and deafening shouts were enough to make one’s scalp tingle. Now, inside the ruins, the sound was like thunder, almost knocking one off their feet.

    Bloody scenes played out repeatedly, the gamblers in the stands clutching their money bags, until finally…

    “Yes!!! I won, I won!!! Hahahahaha!!!”

    A crazed gambler excitedly jumped up, tripped, and fell into the arena, his leg immediately seized by a Rotting Troll, its teeth tearing through flesh and bone.

    “Aaaaaah! Help me! Help…”

    A sickening ripping sound echoed through the arena, followed by the gambler’s lower body disappearing into the troll’s stomach. The troll’s powerful regenerative abilities quickly healed its wounds, and moments later, it left the arena with the challenger.

    The bet was settled, the winner decided, no need for a fight to the death.

    No one cared about the foolish gambler’s demise.

    The winners, those who had bet on the troll, were still lost in their euphoria, who would care about an insignificant death?

    Some were heavily in debt, some were perpetually unlucky, and others had been lured by the promise of quick money, only to become trapped in the gambler’s dilemma.

    Simply betting for the sake of winning, for the thrill of victory.

    The arena was filled with such people, but Lena was the exception.

    “Miss, the next match is about to begin. Care to place a bet?”

    A staff member wearing a rabbit mask pushed a cart past Lena. Instead of food, the cart held stacks of gold bars.

    “On the left is Taylan, a recent champion and the current defender. I recommend betting on him. Although the payout is smaller, it’s still a win. Perfect for a noble and beautiful lady like yourself to test the waters. After all, it’s a game, and everyone wants to win, no one wants to lose everything, right?”

    The rabbit-masked man spoke smoothly, recognizing Lena’s noble aura, clearly a wealthy young lady here for amusement.

    Such whales were to be treated with special care…

    Rich and ambitious, believing themselves clever, but easily swayed with a little persuasion, they were the biggest spenders among gamblers.

    The rabbit man rubbed his hands together, his eyes gleaming. “What do you say, Miss? A small bet is no big deal, it’s just for fun. Even if you lose, it’s just like feeding the coins to a dog, nothing to worry about… And if you win, it shows your good judgment, right?”

    “Makes sense.”

    Lena nodded, casually flipping through the challenger’s information for the next match.

    The rabbit man smiled, thinking he had hooked a big fish. “So, how much would you like to bet, Miss? One hundred gold coins? I suggest starting with a small amount…”

    If she bet big and lost, it might scare her away.

    There were many such people, overconfident, then unwilling to continue after a painful loss, a classic example of turning back from the brink.

    Playing the long game was the mark of a seasoned angler.

    The rabbit man urged, “Have you decided, Miss? The game is about to begin.”

    “Mm, I’ll bet on her,” Lena said, pointing to the right side of the table.

    “What?”

    The rabbit man followed Lena’s finger, his expression turning serious. It was the challenger.

    “Is there a problem?” Lena asked calmly. “I prefer a challenge. She suits my taste, both in appearance and odds. I believe it will be an exciting match.”

    “If you insist, Miss, I won’t object.”

    The rabbit man maintained a polite facade, but inwardly, he was cursing Lena’s entire family.

    Greed would be her downfall. Such people were easily fooled, but also quick to learn from their mistakes.

    Seeing the big fish about to escape, the rabbit man grew anxious, determined to let Lena win a round.

    Only after tasting victory could one become addicted to the thrill of gambling.

    Win first, then lose, lose again and again, then become addicted, forgetting the initial intention of stopping after breaking even, borrowing money, placing all hope on the arena.

    One might get lucky and win, even recoup all losses, but by then, one would have become a true gambler, unable to escape the vicious cycle, ultimately losing everything in a final, all-in bet…

    This was a daily occurrence in the arena, the foundation of its operation.

    The principle was simple, and many understood it, but why did people still fall for it, still gamble away everything? That was the question…

    The rabbit man was confident. “How about this, Miss, as a welcome gift for newcomers, I’ll give you a complimentary gold coupon worth one hundred, which you can use to bet on either side.”

    One gold coupon was equal to one hundred silver coins, which could be converted to gold coins accordingly.

    The rabbit man’s intention was to let Lena play both sides, to keep her entertained.

    A fish needed constant bait to stay hooked. To ensure Lena wouldn’t swim away, the rabbit man had even resorted to giving her a gold coupon.

    This should work…

    Wait! What are you doing?!

    As if sensing the rabbit man’s gaze, Lena paused, her hand holding the gold coupon. “I want to bet on her…”

    “One to one thousand, you dare bet everything at those odds?!”

    That was… a hundred gold coins!

    Lena was throwing it away like it was nothing?

    The rabbit man was shocked and wanted to dissuade her, but then something even more terrifying happened…

    “No way, wait a minute!”

    “Hmm?”

    Lena tossed her money bag onto the cart. Judging by its size, it contained at least a thousand gold coins.

    “A total of one thousand four hundred and eighty-seven gold coins. I just brought this much for fun.”

    For fun? Who brings over a thousand gold coins for fun?!

    What kind of deity was this, paving the way with gold?

    His own salary was only ten gold coins a month, considered high among the staff, yet this rich young lady casually took out an unimaginable amount of wealth.

    This was beyond his pay grade.

    The rabbit man suddenly realized that this beautiful woman with gray hair wasn’t someone he could handle, so he excused himself and decided to report to the arena manager.

    He discreetly signaled towards the corner of the arena:

    Whale alert!

    Send help!!